Remarks of President Joko Widodo on Commemoration of 38th National Sports Day (via Video Conference), 9 September 2021, from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
May prosperity be upon us all,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of virtue.
Ladies and gentlemen and sportspersons,
First of all, I would like to say Happy 38th International Sports Day to all of Indonesian sportspersons, all of Indonesian people who always support the improvement of sports in our country, Indonesia.
This year’s National Sports Day is commemorated with achievements that make us proud. We have won medals in 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. The achievements have inspired the nation, not only making us proud, but also in the future, they will prompt more glorious achievements in sports. I would like to extend my highest appreciation and gratitude to the athletes for their struggle and hard work, and to the coaches for their determination to develop great talents that uphold the good name of the country through their achievements in sports.
Distinguished guests and sportspersons,
We must keep improving our achievements in sports. Achievements do not come instantly. Achievements are made through a systematical and sustainable process of upstream to downstream fostering. We need to focus on our efforts to develop great sporting talents, so there will be more athletes who make achievements, uphold the good name of Indonesia at international level, and have great potential to win Olympic medals. We have many potential athletes in various sports, such as badminton, weightlifting, sport climbing, archery, shooting, karate, taekwondo, cycling, athletics, swimming, canoeing, and artistic gymnastics, as well as pencak silat and wushu. We should prepare the athletes of pencak silat and wushu to perform well.
Therefore, I invite all stakeholders to work in synergy to create a more modern ecosystem of sports industry, to hold many sports competitions that are healthy and boosting performance, and to find great young talents. Those things will lay a strong foundation for the sports development in Indonesia. I conclude my remarks here.
Thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (AW/LW)