JAKARTA - The opening of the 2022 National Special Olympics Week (PeSOnas) in Semarang was lively. The event which is intended for children with special talents, was opened by the Governor of Central Java (Central Java) Ganjar Pranowo and the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia Zainudin Amali.
Those who take part in PeSonas are people with intellectual disabilities or mental retardation. Through PeSOnas, children with special talents should not be “hidden” by their parents or the environment.
"Thank you to all who attended. I really hope that tomorrow will be a sporting match. The loser should not cry, the winner should not be arrogant because we are brothers. Agree?" said Ganjar, who was immediately greeted with an applause from the athletes participating in the PeSOnas, as reported by the Central Java Provincial Government.
Ganjar Pranowo who was present accompanied by the Deputy Governor of Central Java, Taj Yasin Maimoen, at that time also shared his experience watching the action of Indonesian athletes with disabilities in Dubai. Full of admiration, Ganjar admitted that he was amazed by the ability of Indonesian athletes with disabilities in the international arena.
Their great ability is very comparable to the slogan "I am the star" which is the motto of the 2022 PeSOnas event.
"These children are top, extraordinary. Of those who participated (PeSOnas) it turns out that many have won gold. If we say they are stars, it is true. For me and anyone who has never won gold or participated in sports outside country, today we will learn from those who are full of sportsmanship, integrity and enthusiasm," he said.
Ganjar gave high appreciation to the committees who were able to realize the event, which was attended by around 22 provinces from all over Indonesia.
"Thank you guys, for having prepared this wonderfully. We have prepared a good place so that it can accommodate a lot of people. We also provide good service so that tomorrow's competition will take place in a sporting manner,"
RI Menpora Zainudin Amali said Central Java should be a role model for other regions. The reason is that the provincial government's attention to the development of sports with disabilities is very large.
"At the end of the month until August 11, Central Java will also host the ASEAN Paragames. We should appreciate and be proud of this. Thanks to Pak Ganjar as governor who has prepared. I once thought that if local governments throughout Indonesia had the same concern, it would revive and grow our paralympic event," he said while speaking on the stage at the Holy Stadium Semarang.
The Minister of Youth and Sports explained that the implementation of PeSOnas is very much in line with the central government's program to support and encourage the achievements of athletes, both disabled and non-disabled.
"We are targeting that by 2045 Indonesia will be in the top five of the world rankings. Both for athletes with disabilities and non-disabled. This is a form of seriousness and support from President Joko Widodo to equalize the appreciation of disabled athletes with non-disabled athletes," he said.
The chairman of the Central Committee for the Special Olympics Indonesia (Soina) Warsito Ellwein explained, at the first PeSOna event, there were 12 sports and cultural arts competitions. Among them, swimming, badminton, handball, basketball, rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis, soccer, futsal, boccee, volleyball, athletics, and dance sports.
In addition to competitions, there are also non-competitive activities such as athlete health, family congress, neuroscience and cultural arts. In total there were 1,118 athletes and 606 assistants or officials involved. All activities are centered in Semarang City and will take place from 3-8 July 2022.
"We call them children with special talents, no longer intellectual disabilities. We want these children to be given a safe, comfortable, friendly and harmonious, and happy space, so that they can work to develop their potential and be useful for themselves, the community , as well as the state," said Warsito.
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