Minister of Youth and Sports Determined to Bring Traditional Sports to the Olympic Games

Dream - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo opened the 9th National Traditional Sports Week (POTRADNAS) at the Open Space Gallery Linggarjati, Kuningan Regency, West Java, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

In his speech, Dito admitted that he was happy because amidst the onslaught of globalization, there are still many young people who engage in various traditional sports. Moreover, this event involves many young people.

"This is cool, amidst the era of globalization that revolves around digital things like e-sports and the like, there are still many young people who are interested in traditional sports," said Dito.

He said, the government is committed to preserving traditional games that have been passed down through generations. One of them is by developing them into traditional sports that can be played by the current generation.

"Traditional sports can be an alternative to improve physical fitness, and it is hoped that traditional sports can eventually become an achievement," he said.

"Let's turn tradition into achievement. As an example, Pencak Silat used to be a traditional sport as a heritage from our ancestors, ultimately, in the SEA Games 2023, it contributed 9 gold medals and became the overall champion in Southeast Asia. And we will continue to encourage it to enter the Olympics," continued Dito.

Lastly, Minister of Youth and Sports Dito invited collaboration and active participation from regions and traditional sports practitioners to continue developing them into sports tourism and sports industry, which will ultimately improve the economy of the community.

"The challenge is indeed heavy, but let the regions and traditional sports practitioners develop into sports tourism. Like here in Kuningan, it is held in the Linggarjati area which has historical tourism, reminding us of the negotiations between Indonesia and the Netherlands after independence, so that the community will know that this place is an inseparable part of the beginning of Indonesia's development as an independent nation," he said.

"Tools such as egrang, sumpit, and terompah can be used as sports industry, which will ultimately contribute to the economy of the community," he added.

POTRADNAS will be held from June 13 to 15, 2023, with participants consisting of young people aged 15-22 years, representing 26 contingents from provinces and regencies/cities in Indonesia.

There are five types of traditional sports that will be competed in the 9th POTRADNAS, such as Hadang, Egrang, Sumpitan, Terompah Panjang, and Gasing. The opening was marked by the blowing of Sumpitan to the target by Minister of Youth and Sports Dito and Regent of Kuningan Acep Purnama.