Bandung-wapresri.go.id. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said, sports events such as the National Games (PON) is a part of efforts to promote mental revolution, particularly of young people, and national unity.
“The game is not just a game, but it is also the medium to develop physical health, as well as to raise cooperation and honesty,” said the Vice President in the closing ceremony of the 19th PON at Bandung Lautan Api Stadium in Gedebage, Bandung, West Java province on Thursday (Sept. 29).
The Vice President hoped the achievements during this PON can be maintained and even be improved in a bid to prepare for the larger sporting events, such as the coming Asian Games in 2018 in which Indonesia will be the host.
“I also give particular appreciation to the contingent of West Java who became the grand champion this time and the entire West Java people who have become a good host for the PON,” said the Vice President.
Earlier, West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan in his capacity as the 19th PON chairman reported that the 44 sports contested in this game had been arranged on schedule in 16 districts/cities in the province.
“Many coverages in various media tell that there were games that are constrained due to protests and disputes. However, we could eventually manage this and the games could continue until the final round,” he said.
Of 5205 games contested, Aher added, there were only 11 games with serious constraints, or merely 0.2 percent of the overall game, and only 9 disputes of the games were submitted to the PON’s council of justice.
“In the field of accommodation, food, transportation, health services, security and information systems, there was almost no complaint from both athletes and officials,” he claimed.
The 19th PON also noted some new record-breakings, namely 89 PON records, 33 national records, one SEA Games record, 26 Asian records, and five world records. Additionally, the even has spawned a new legend, like a Jabar swimmer who won eight gold medals.
The closing ceremony of the PON was preceded with a moment of silence for the souls of the victims of natural disasters in Garut, West Java Province, led by the Vice President.
The event was livened up with the fireworks, song performances by national artists, Rampak Gendang traditional performance by Samba Sunda Group, Angklung music, and a colossal dance of “Archipelagic Harmony” by some 600 dancers from the Indonesian University of Education (UPI) and Bandung Institute of Indonesian Arts and Culture.
It was also announced at the ceremony that the Papua Province will be the host of the next PON in 2020.
http://www.wapresri.go.id/pon-lambangkan-persatuan-dan-kekuatan-indonesia/
