Menpora Ensures PON XX Papua is Held October 2-15, 2021

 

The Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Menpora RI), Zainudin Amali, confirmed that the XX National Sports Week (PON) will be held on October 2-15, 2021. And it will certainly not be postponed again like in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This statement was made by Menpora Amali after attending a cabinet meeting (Ratas) with President Joko Widodo at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, Monday (15/3). Present at this limited meeting were Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and several related officials, including the Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim and the Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe.

In this limited meeting, Menpora Amali and Papua Governor Lukas Enembe submitted reports related to the readiness of holding PON XX and Peparnas XVI.

"Earlier, the governor attended, Mr. Lukas Enembe, he said that in principle everything was ready and we also reported. So the implementation of PON 20 (will take place) from October 2 to October 15, 2021, "said Menpora Amali.

Menpora Amali said that President Joko Widodo did not want the national sports event to be postponed again. "And the President's direction, because this is ready, we will do it in 2021, there is no delay in PON because we have postponed it in 2020," he said.

According to the Menpora Amali, for the technical implementation, his party will see how the Tokyo Olympics will take place on 23 July - 8 August 2021. Especially regarding the implementation of health protocols because they are still hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Of course there are questions about what the implementation will be like, we will see the development later. Will this be carried out without a concrete, or a limited audience, or in a normal capacity. We learn from the Tokyo Olympics which will be held in the next few months. We will see the implementation of what the health protocol looks like, of course it becomes important, and it must be done with discipline, "he concluded.

Menpora Amali also conveyed that President Jokowi encouraged the vaccination process to be carried out for athletes, coaches and support staff so that when the PON was held all participants or contingents had been vaccinated.

"Even Mr. President directed the community around the venue to be vaccinated, to ensure that by October they have all been vaccinated," he explained.