The Institute for Social and Political Studies (Mi6) has officially proposed that the XXII National Sports Week (PON) in 2028 allocate special space for various traditional folk sports. This initiative is seen as a crucial step in maintaining the existence of the archipelago's cultural heritage while strengthening the nation's identity in the modern era.
Director of Mi6, Bambang Mei Finarwanto, stated that Indonesia has a rich diversity of traditional folk games spread widely across the region, which are now threatened with extinction due to the lack of platforms for actualization. According to him, PON should not only focus on modern competitive sports, but must also serve as a cultural showcase capable of reflecting the identity of the Indonesian people.
As an initial step, Mi6 suggests that traditional sports be contested at least in an exhibition category. This format is considered the most realistic way to reintroduce noble values such as sportsmanship, mutual cooperation, and harmonious relations between humans and the environment, without disrupting the official PON competition schedule.
Bambang also urged the Chairman of KONI NTB, Mori Hanafi, to champion this proposal so that traditional sports disciplines secure dedicated venues in the upcoming event. This is expected to generate a dual impact, namely boosting tourism and serving as an educational tool for the younger generation to become more familiar with their own local traditional heritage.
Furthermore, Mi6 encourages synergy between KONI, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and related ministries to map out and standardize traditional sports. This inventory step is necessary to ensure that game rules, scoring systems, and athlete development run systematically and sustainably down to the grassroots level.
