Jakarta (ANTARA) - Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has stated that the 2024 National Sports Week (PON) aims not only for sports achievements but also for promoting the host regions and improving local community welfare.
“The event can boost the hosting regions, Aceh and North Sumatra, economically. For example, creating arts and music festivals could be beneficial,” he elaborated on Friday.
He added that local governments in the host regions could organize various public entertainments to increase public enthusiasm.
“The event will also stimulate the growth of the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, allowing both provinces to capitalize on this sporting event,” he pointed out.
The minister called for further refinement of technical preparations for the event, including improvements to infrastructure, transportation, and the cleanliness of the event locations. According to him, the 2024 PON is a matter of great pride for the nation, including the people of Aceh and North Sumatra. The event will feature athletes from 38 Indonesian provinces.
The Aceh-North Sumatra PON is scheduled to take place from September 9 to 20, with competitions in 65 sports—33 in Aceh and 34 in North Sumatra.
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In Aceh, the event will host 6,287 athletes and 3,158 officials, while North Sumatra will welcome 6,618 athletes and 3,320 officials. President Joko Widodo is expected to attend the opening ceremony, along with other ministers.
Karnavian also expressed his belief that the event could help ease political tensions ahead of the regional elections later this year. He added that focusing on the matches and entertainment could help divert attention from regional election issues, thereby reducing the potential for conflict.
