The Mi6 Social and Political Study Institute has officially proposed that the XXII National Sports Week (PON) in 2028 provide a stage for various traditional folk sports. This step is deemed crucial as a concrete effort to preserve the archipelago's cultural heritage while strengthening national identity amidst massive modernization.
Mi6 Director, Bambang Mei Finarwanto, expressed his concern over the fate of traditional sports, which are increasingly marginalized from the attention of the younger generation. According to him, Indonesia possesses abundant local wisdom from Sabang to Merauke, but lacks space for actualization. He suggested that the relevant authorities include these folk games, at least in the exhibition category, to introduce them to the wider public.
More than just physical competition, traditional sports are seen as harboring noble values such as the spirit of mutual cooperation (gotong royong), sportsmanship, and closeness to the environment. The man, affectionately known as Didu, emphasized that PON plays a strategic role as a cultural showcase, where each province can present its regional characteristics to the national audience.
To achieve this, Mi6 is encouraging synergy between the National Sports Committee (KONI), the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and local governments to conduct an inventory and standardize game rules. This stage is vital so that folk sports have a measurable scoring system and can be developed sustainably, potentially even becoming official sports in the future.
Beyond participation in national events, Mi6 also stressed the importance of regeneration at the grassroots level through schools and communities. Didu concluded by hoping that this policy could serve as a strategic momentum for stakeholders to strike a balance between modern sports achievement orientation and the preservation of the nation's civilizational roots, ensuring they do not fade with time.
