IO – After the recent closing of the XX National Sports Week, Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia K.H. Ma’ruf Amin returned to Papua. He was back to open the National Paralympics Week on Friday, 5 November 2021. It will be held on 2-15 November in two clusters, i.e. Jayapura City and in the Regency of Jayapura. 1,985 athletes from 33 provinces are competing in 12 fields of sport: weightlifting, athletics, boccia, badminton, chess, judo, shooting, archery, swimming, CP soccer, wheelchair tennis, and wheelchair table tennis.
Ma’ruf expressed his appreciation of the disabled athletes participating in the National Paralympics Week: “Ladies and Gentlemen: you are an inspiration and energy for your fellow citizens and for your country. You are the torch that fires up the fames of passion to achieve with your persistence. Spread the fearlessness that you all carry within your souls! Success awaits all of you,” he said during the Grand Opening at Mandala Stadium, Jayapura City, Papua. “You show everyone that you are able to do what others can do despite your disabilities. Achieve even beyond your aspirations! Your disabilities shall not obstruct your aspirations and achievements. Rise, unite, achieve victory in the Land of Papua! Shout out now, Torang Bisa, We Can Do It!”
Ma’ruf further expressed his appreciation of everyone involved in the preparation of the Papua XVI National Paralympics Week 2021. “I thank the Minister of Youth and Sports, the Ministers in the Indonesia Onward Cabinet, the Governors of all provinces, especially the Governor of Papua, the General Chairman of the Indonesian National Paralympics Committee (NPC), and all of their management and staff members who have worked hard to prepare for the National Paralympics Week,” he said. “Thanks to the support of my beloved people of Papua, my affectionate people of Papua, we have successfully prepared competition venues and facilities according to National Paralympics Week competition standards.”
The Papua XVI National Paralympics Week Opening Ceremony features national artists such as Anggun, Edo Kondologit, Nowela, and Putri Ariani, as well as national dances such as the Papuan Traditional Home Dance, the Sampan (Boat) Dance, the Soldiers’ Dance, the Cendrawasih (Bird of Paradise) Dance, and the Papua Bisa (Papua Can Do It) Dance. The XVI National Paralympics Week fag was then hoisted with the accompaniment of the song “Sang Patriot” (“The Patriot”), followed by a drum and marching band show, the Hara and Wara mascot show, and a parade of athletes from the 33 provinces, starting from the Aceh contingent as the representatives of the westernmost region and ending with the host Papua contingent as representatives of the easternmost region of the country. Also present in the Ceremony were Ambassadors of friendly countries stationed in Papua, the Ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet, and the Regional Heads of Papua. (rp)