Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, highlighted the significance of pencak silat as a cultural heritage of Indonesia during the global sports initiative event ‘Securing the Legacy: Debriefing from Paris 2024 for Future Major Sporting Events Marking’ at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He emphasized that pencak silat embodies values of discipline, resilience, and peace, going beyond martial arts. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat instills the importance of defending and protecting while promoting harmony and peace.
Minister Dito expressed Indonesia’s intent to elevate the global awareness of pencak silat, aiming for its inclusion in the Olympics as a symbol of global resilience. He believes that sports, such as pencak silat, play a vital role in nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution by reflecting principles of security resilience. Indonesia is a supporter of the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme, focusing on empowering youth and enhancing resilience through traditional and modern sports.
Lessons from the 2024 Paris Olympics underscored the need for robust security infrastructure and preparedness for major sporting events. Minister Dito stressed the importance of innovative security frameworks, intelligence collaboration, and global partnerships in effectively managing security challenges. Indonesia is committed to strengthening public-private partnerships, improving sports safety standards, and fostering international cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to introduce pencak silat in the Olympics received recognition, calling for support from all sectors. The preservation of pencak silat as Indonesia’s cultural heritage and the push for its inclusion in the Olympics were highlighted. These efforts align with Indonesia’s commitment to promoting collaboration for peace and unity through sports. The country’s dedication to using sports as a tool for peace and resilience mirrors a global goal of ensuring a secure and inclusive sporting environment worldwide.
Sources:
– Prabowo Subianto official website
– Official Prabowo 2024 website
