Day: September 27, 2021

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Organizing committee limits soccer spectators

The number of spectators allowed to watch live soccer matches during the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) will be limited to 25 percent of the stadium capacity, a senior official has said.

“Spectators can still come to the stadium, however, the number is limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” head of the soccer organizing committee, Rocky Bebena, explained.

In addition, only spectators who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed entry to the match venues, he added.

According to information posted on the official website of the XX Papua PON organizing committee (PB PON) on Monday, the regulations are in accordance with a circular issued by the Youth and Sports Ministry on September 22, 2021.

Meanwhile, the first soccer match at PON is scheduled to take place on Monday at the Mandala Stadium in Jayapura city.

The much-anticipated match will pit Papua, the national sporting event’s host, against West Java, the defending champion.

While the stadium capacity can accommodate 18 thousand spectators, only around 5 thousand spectators will be allowed to enter the venue due to COVID-19 restrictions, Bebena said.

Furthermore, the soccer organizing committee head informed that entry tickets for the match can be purchased offline or booked online through the tiket.com app, which is collaborating with PB PON.

“The app provides 60 percent of the tickets, while the remaining 40 percent can be acquired offline,” he added.

He also emphasized that spectators must comply with the health protocols, which will include undergoing a COVID-19 antigen swab test and temperature scan as well as wearing a mask.

The regulations and protocols will also be applied to the Mahacandra Stadium at Cenderawasih University, Jayapura city, and Barnabas Youwe Stadium in Sentani sub-disctrict, Jayapura district, which will also host XX Papua PON soccer matches, he said.

“The health protocols will be conducted strictly,” he affirmed.

Source: Antara News

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Stakeholders must promote Papua tourism during PON: KONI

Indonesia’s National Sports Committee (KONI) has urged all stakeholders to use the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) as an opportunity to promote Papua tourism.

Papua has a number of tourism objects that have the potential to be developed further, such as Sentani Lake and Yoboi village in Jayapura district, said deputy KONI chairman for foreign affairs, media, and public relations, Chris John, quoted by the website infopublik on Monday.

“It’s a shame if stakeholders in Papua don’t use the Papua PON for the sake of tourism progress. One of them (destinations with a tourism potential) is Sentani Lake,” John said while taking a tour of Lake Sentani on the Foi Moi Ship on Sunday.

Some steps that can be taken to promote tourism include making banners or guidebooks for tour packages in Papua, he suggested.

“The Tourism Office in Papua, especially in Jayapura, needs to maximize tourism potential for Papua PON participants,” he said.

Athletes at the Papua National Games will have a high interest in traveling given Papua’s natural charm, he conjectured.

“Of course, athletes at the Papua PON will not immediately return to their area (of origin), and this could be an opportunity for tourism players,” he said.

John said that through professional management, tourism in Papua could greatly impact the public economy.

“People around Sentani Lake will also feel the improvement in (terms of) welfare if the tourism potential can be maximized,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, KONI Chairman Lieutenant General Marciano Norman said he expects the Papua National Games to push the development of sports tourism in the province.

Papua province has great potential for sports tourism, he remarked.

The Papua PON will be officially opened by President Joko Widodo at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Jayapura district on October 2, 2021.

The multi-sports event will be held in Jayapura District, Jayapura City, Mimika District, and Merauke District. A total of 6,496 athletes and around 3,300 officials are scheduled to participate in the event, which will feature 37 sports, 56 sports disciplines, and 679 competitions.

Source: Antara News

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Acting regional heads should have understanding of democratic process

Political observer at Andalas University Asrinaldi firmly believes that acting regional heads, appointed by the government ahead of the Regional Head Election (Pilkada) 2024, should have an understanding of the process of democracy, especially pertaining to public participation in an election.

According to Asrinaldi, the person to assume the role of regional head should be one, who can encourage active participation of the people within the democratic process.

“Usually, (officials) from the army or the police would have an easier time mobilizing the masses,” he noted when contacted by ANTARA from here on Monday.

The government, starting from 2022, would have to appoint more than 200 acting regional leaders ahead the simultaneous elections in 2024, to avoid power vacuum in 24 provinces and 247 districts/municipalities.

However, Asrinaldi said, despite the fact that the army and police are more adept at mobilizing masses, an aspect of neutrality should be taken into account when anyone from these two institutions becomes an acting regional head.

On the flip side, regional heads, hailing from a civil organization and having an understanding of the programs or activities to increase people’s participation within the political sphere, can collaborate with the army or police to help mobilize the masses, he noted.

“This is because if they do not understand the process of democracy, it would be hard to encourage the people’s participation (within the Pilkada 2024),” Asrinaldi elaborated.

To this end, regardless of whether the acting regional head was from the army or police, or was a civilian, he/she should understand the process of democracy and the condition of a region, whether it is conflict-prone, only then can that person be the right one to lead.

If a region is considered an area that is vulnerable to conflicts, then someone from the army or the police would be the right person to lead that region, he stated.

“It is important to ensure that acting regional heads understand democracy. We hope that there would be an open and inclusive contest, as well as active participation from the people for the Pilkada in 2024,” he affirmed.

Source: Antara News

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