Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, took the opportunity 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 to showcase pencak silat as a significant cultural heritage of Indonesia. He emphasized the essence of pencak silat, highlighting its values of discipline, resilience, and peace. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat not only teaches self-defense but also promotes harmony and peace among its practitioners.
Minister Dito expressed Indonesia’s determination to elevate pencak silat’s global presence, possibly even as part of the Olympics. He believes that sports, particularly disciplines like pencak silat, embody principles of security resilience and can play a crucial role in nation-building, fostering social cohesion, and resolving conflicts. Indonesia has pledged support to the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme, leveraging traditional and modern sports to empower youth and enhance resilience.
Drawing lessons from the 2024 Paris Olympics, Minister Dito underscored the importance of robust security measures and preparedness for hosting major sporting events. He emphasized the need for innovative security approaches, intelligence sharing, and international partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia is committed to bolstering public-private collaborations, elevating sports safety standards, and fostering global cooperation to tackle extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s aspiration to see pencak silat featured in the Olympics was acknowledged, accompanied by a call for widespread support. He stressed the significance of preserving pencak silat as an integral part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage and pushing for its inclusion in the Olympic Games. These efforts to promote pencak silat align with Indonesia’s dedication to fostering peace and unity through sports. Indonesia’s commitment to leveraging sports as a symbol of peace and resilience resonates with the overarching goal of creating a secure and inclusive global sporting environment.
