The Banggai Regency Government, through the Youth and Sports Agency (Dispora), officially opened a series of traditional sports competitions at the Bumi Mutiara Square, Luwuk, on Monday (13/7/2026). This initiative was organized as part of the celebrations for the 66th anniversary of Banggai Regency, as well as to welcome the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia.
The opening ceremony was attended directly by the Assistant I for Government and Public Welfare of the Banggai Regional Secretariat, Mujiono Lasitata, along with regional leaders and members of Forkopimda. In his remarks, Mujiono emphasized that this competition is not merely a display of dexterity, but a tangible manifestation of the local government's efforts to preserve cultural heritage while strengthening the bonds of fellowship among civil servants.
Furthermore, Mujiono highlighted the importance of maintaining the relevance of traditional sports amidst modernization. According to him, the folk games being contested contain fundamental moral values, such as sportsmanship, honesty, teamwork, and mutual respect, which are highly relevant to be applied in the government work environment.
The competition, which runs for three days until Wednesday (15/7/2026), is participated in by civil servant representatives from all government agencies within the Banggai Regency Government. There are five traditional sports being contested: soput (blowpipe), patengka (stilts), sack race, kalario (hadang/traditional tag game), and tug of war.
The government hopes this event will spark enthusiasm so that traditional sports continue to be preserved and revitalized by the next generation. The Banggai Dispora is committed to exploring other traditional game potentials in the future to ensure that local cultural wealth remains preserved and is not eroded by time.
