Solo, wapresri.go.id – ASEAN Para Games XI 2022 which was officially opened by Vice President KH Ma’ruf Amin on Saturday night (30/07/2022) at Manahan Stadium Surakarta, Solo, Central Java (Central Java), takes place from 30 July to 6 August 2022. There are 14 types of sports that will be competed, including athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, chess, weightlifting, bocia, judo, goalboal, wheelchair tennis, archery, CP football, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair basketball.
Indonesia as the host will field around 200 athletes to participate in all sports that are competed. The Vice President also hopes that the Indonesian contingent can win the overall championship in the event.
“We hope that Indonesia can become the grand champion, and in the future, we will indeed have a National Sports Grand Design, namely in order to improve performance and carry out more well-organized coaching, with target designs,” said Vice President Amin to the media crew after officially opened the ASEAN Para Games XI 2022.
The Vice President revealed that during the Covid-19 pandemic there were minimal international sport events, so he gave his appreciation for organizing this year’s ASEAN Para Games XI.
“Alhamdulillah, the Minister of Youth and Sports, the Governor, the Mayor were able to organize and I think this is an extraordinary achievement to encourage the enthusiasm of the athletes for these games, which they have not expected for a long time,” he said.
Furthermore, regarding Indonesian athletes who have successfully competed in the ASEAN Para Games XI 2022, the Vice President emphasized that there will be awards given to these athletes.
“And the government will give awards as planned to outstanding athletes,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Solo as Chairman of the Indonesia ASEAN Para Games XI 2022 Gibran Rakabuming Raka, conveyed the successful opening of today’s event and will be closed on August 6, 2022.
“Alhamdulillah, the opening ceremony for this event went smoothly. After this session, the event will be held until the 5th [August], and on the 6th [August] there will be a closing ceremony,” explained Gibran.
“Hopefully the target to achieve the overall champion can be made,” he added.
Furthermore, the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali also said that the central government had cooperated optimally in preparing for the ASEAN Para Games XI 2022 event.
“As we have signed Presidential Decree 86 of 2021 concerning the Great Design of National Sports (DBON), the head of the coordination team at the central level is directly Mr. Vice President and we have prepared everything, including for our Para Games athletes,” said Zainudin.
“So hopefully Indonesia will run under the leadership of the Vice President,” he concluded. (DMA/LHS– BPMI, Setwapres)