The Opening Ceremony Of The Papua National Sports Week Will Show The Natural Beauty Of The Earth Of Cenderawasih

Lukas Enembe Stadium (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Secretary-General of the Central Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Ade Lukman leaked, the concept of the 2021 Papua National Sports Week (PON) opening ceremony which will be held on Saturday night at the Lukas Enembe Stadium will show the natural beauty of the Cenderawasih Earth.

According to Ade, one of the messages will be delivered through dance performances from hundreds of native Papuan dancers.

"The theme is basically more to show the beauty of the flora, fauna, and culture of Papua," Ade told Antara, Tuesday.

In addition to dance performances, the opening ceremony of PON Papua 2021 will also be filled with various other creative entertainment, such as music concerts performed by Papuan musicians.

All creative segments at the opening, continued Ade, will involve indigenous Papuans and it is certain that there will be no capital city artists.

Ade explained that the opening ceremony will continue to carry out procedures and provisions such as other multi-sport events, starting from the contingent defile parade, the reading of athletes' promises, to the lighting of the cauldron.

However, the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali previously said that the parade would not be as lively as usual because the committee limited the number of participants in an effort to minimize the transmission of COVID-19.

Regarding audience attendance, the government has set a maximum of only 25 percent of the total stadium capacity of 40.000 people who are allowed to attend. This number includes athletes, officials, and other support personnel.

Meanwhile, people who want to watch are required to have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Zainudin also confirmed that President Joko Widodo would directly open the 2021 Papua PON at the Lukas Enembe Stadium. According to him, the organizing committee, National Armed Force (TNI), National Police (Polri), and related elements have ensured that the opening ceremony will run safely and smoothly.