Prabowo to join Paris Olympics opening ceremony

id olympic,prabowo subianto,paris 2024

Prabowo to join Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto (center), giving a speech at the Indonesia-France Business Executive Luncheon in Paris, France, on Thursday (July 25, 2024). (ANTARA/HO-Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday.

Brigadier General Edwin Adrian Sumantha, head of public relations at the Ministry of Defense, said that Prabowo will witness the Indonesian contingent's parade on the Seine River in Paris at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time.

He will cheer for the 29 Indonesian athletes competing in 12 sports along with Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC Indonesia) chairperson Raja Sapta Oktohari; International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir; and other officials.

During a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, Prabowo expressed his belief that the Paris Olympics would be a unifying event.

"We are confident that this Olympics will be a great success, showcasing the world's extraordinary athletic talent and fostering international friendship and competition," he said.

This year, for the first time, the Paris Olympics' opening ceremony and athletes' parade will take place on the Seine River rather than in a stadium. As part of the program, contingents from 206 countries will participate in boat parades, wearing specially designed uniforms highlighting their cultural heritage.

Fourteen members from the Indonesian contingent, including Chef de Mission Anindya Bakrie, judo athlete Maryam March Maharani (flag bearer), cyclist Bernard Benyamin van Aert, and swimmers Azzahra Permatahani and Joe Aditya, will participate in the parade.

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They will wear uniforms designed by Prabowo's son, fashion designer Didit Hediprasetyo.

Inspired by the traditional navy blue beskap and bright red Javanese Kutu Baru kebaya, the uniforms blend modernity with simplicity.

Didit expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to design the uniforms, stating, "I hope this design symbolizes our nation's pride, spirit, and resilience, showcasing our athletes on the world stage."