Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, recently showcased Indonesia’s cultural heritage by promoting pencak silat during the ‘Securing the Legacy: Debriefing from Paris 2024 for Future Major Sporting Events Marking’ event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He emphasized how pencak silat, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, embodies values of discipline, resilience, and peace, teaching practitioners to defend and protect while promoting harmony and peace.
Minister Dito highlighted Indonesia’s efforts to raise international awareness about pencak silat, aiming for its inclusion in events like the Olympics to symbolize global resilience. He believes that sports, especially ones like pencak silat, can foster security resilience, contribute to nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Indonesia is committed to utilizing traditional and modern sports through programs like the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme to empower youth and enhance resilience.
Drawing lessons from the 2024 Paris Olympics, Minister Dito stressed the importance of strong security infrastructure and preparedness for major sporting events. He called for innovative security frameworks, intelligence collaboration, and global partnerships to effectively manage security challenges. Indonesian efforts include strengthening public-private partnerships, improving sports safety standards, and promoting international cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to bring pencak silat to the Olympics received mention, with a call for support from all quarters to uphold Indonesia’s cultural heritage and work towards its Olympic inclusion. These initiatives align with Indonesia’s dedication to fostering collaboration for peace and unity through sports. The country’s commitment to promoting sports as a symbol of peace and resilience mirrors the shared goal of creating a safe and inclusive global sporting environment.
