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 advocate for pencak silat as a significant cultural heritage of Indonesia. He emphasized how pencak silat transcends martial arts, embodying values such as discipline, resilience, and peace. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat instills in its practitioners the skills to defend and protect, while also promoting harmony and peace.
Minister Dito highlighted Indonesia’s perspective on pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience and its efforts to raise awareness about it on an international scale, including its potential inclusion in the Olympics. He firmly believes that sports, exemplified by pencak silat, uphold principles of security resilience and can play a crucial role in nation-building, fostering social cohesion, and resolving conflicts. Indonesia has pledged its support to the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme, aiming to empower youth and enhance resilience through both traditional and modern sports.
Drawing lessons from the 2024 Paris Olympics, Minister Dito underscored the importance of having robust security infrastructure and being well-prepared for major sporting events. He emphasized the necessity of innovative security frameworks, intelligence sharing, and forging global partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia is committed to bolstering public-private collaborations, elevating sports safety standards, and fostering international cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to introduce pencak silat to the Olympics was highlighted, along with a call for support from all stakeholders. The President stressed the significance of preserving pencak silat as an integral part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage and striving for its inclusion in the Olympics. These efforts to promote pencak silat resonate with Indonesia’s dedication to fostering peace and unity through sports collaboration. Indonesia’s unwavering commitment to championing sports as a symbol of peace and resilience aligns with the shared goal of creating a secure and inclusive global sporting environment.
