National Games to be Held in Papua Next Year

Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrowi accompanied by Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe during a press conference on the 2020 National Games, in Jakarta, Monday (26/8). (Photo by: Fitri/PR).

The Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrowi on Monday (26/8) has said that Limited Meeting on the preparation of the 2020 National Games (PON) and National Paralympic Games (Peparnas) in Papua Province had discussed to reduce the number of sports and events.

“We will reduce to at least 37 sports from 47,” Nahrawi said in Jakarta.

According to the Minister, the 2020 PON organizer will be assisted by the Asian Games organizer. “So that the PON in Papua will truly become a prestigious momentum for Indonesia in the eyes of the world,” he added.

Moreover, the Minister also said that since Papua will be focused on organizing the PON, whereas the Peparnas would be held elsewhere and the Student Games which usually held a year before the PON will be held in Jakarta.

On the occasion, Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe said that the 2020 PON will be held in three locations namely Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency and Mimika Regency and he estimates that 36,000 participants—both athletes and officials—will arrive in Jayapura.

“The President (Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo) is very serious about seeing the National Games as a place where the children of the nation can gather and compete in Papua,” Lukas said, adding that there will be 1,300 Papuan athletes who are going to participate in the Games.

Furthermore, the Governor also guarantees that security situation in Jayapura will be conducive. “We have coordinated with security forces in those three locations,” he concluded. (HIM/FID/AGG/ES)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Mia Medyana