Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, recently took the opportunity at 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 cultural heritage of Indonesia. He showcased how pencak silat embodies values such as discipline, resilience, and peace, transcending beyond martial arts. Acknowledged by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat instills lessons of protection and defense in its practitioners, promoting harmony and tranquility.
During the event, Minister Dito expressed Indonesia’s ambition to elevate pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience, with aspirations to elevate its recognition on an international scale, potentially even at the Olympics. He emphasized that sports, exemplified by pencak silat, uphold principles of security resilience, contributing significantly to nation-building, social integration, and resolution of conflicts. Indonesia’s commitment to the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme demonstrates its dedication to leveraging both traditional and modern sports to empower youth and enhance resilience.
Drawing insights from the 2024 Paris Olympics, Minister Dito underscored the importance of establishing robust security infrastructure and readiness for major sporting events. He stressed the necessity for innovative security strategies, intelligence sharing, and fostering global partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia aims to fortify public-private collaborations, elevate sports safety standards, and encourage international cooperation in utilizing sports as a means to combat violent extremism.
In a bid to support President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of introducing pencak silat to the Olympics, Minister Dito rallied for collective support from various stakeholders. He emphasized the significance of preserving pencak silat as an integral part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage while striving for its integration into the Olympics. These efforts align with Indonesia’s aspiration to promote collaboration for peace and unity through sports. The commitment to promoting sports as a symbol of peace and resilience epitomizes Indonesia’s dedication to fostering a safe and inclusive global sports environment.
