VP says, PON should be a preparation for larger games

Jakarta-wapresri.go.id – Vice President hoped that the 19th National Sports Week (PON) 2016 held in West Java province can be used as a test and preparation for athletes to face a much larger sport events, such as the SEA Games.

The Vice President stated this when receiving West Java governor Ahmad Heryawan with the PON committee at his office on Jalan Merdeka Utara in Jakarta on Thursday (Sept. 1).

Aher, a nickname for Ahmad Heryawan, told the Vice President that the 19th PON will present 756 gold medals in 44 sports, and will be joined by approximately 9,000 athletes and officials from 34 provinces in Indonesia.

“The entire game will be held simultaneously in 16 districts and cities in West Java province from September 17 to 29, 2016,” he said.

Aher also reported, the game has spent 2.3 trillion rupiahs for the construction of venues, the completion of roads to the venues, and the provision of supporting facilities such as sports equipment.

“Do not worry, all this is an investment,” the Vice President responded to the report.

At the end of the meeting, Aher also asked the Vice President to officially close the PON on September 29, 2016. President Joko Widodo, he said, has confirmed to inaugurate the opening ceremony on September 17.

The Vice President confirmed to the request to attend the closing ceremony that will be held at the Bandung Lautan Api Stadium.