Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, recently used the global sports initiative event held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to showcase pencak silat as a significant cultural heritage of Indonesia. He emphasized the values of discipline, resilience, and peace embedded in pencak silat, going beyond just martial arts. Acknowledged by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, the art of pencak silat teaches individuals not only self-defense but also the promotion of harmony and peace.
Minister Dito reiterated Indonesia’s commitment to promoting pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience and hopes to raise international awareness, including its inclusion in the Olympics. He believes that sports, such as pencak silat, embody principles of security resilience and can contribute to nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Indonesia is actively engaged in the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme, leveraging traditional and modern sports to empower youth and enhance resilience.
Lessons learned from the 2024 Paris Olympics were emphasized, stressing the importance of robust security infrastructure and preparedness for major sporting events. Minister Dito underscored the necessity of innovative security frameworks, intelligence collaboration, and global partnerships to effectively manage security challenges. Indonesia aims to bolster public-private partnerships, elevate sports safety standards, and encourage international cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports initiatives.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of introducing pencak silat to the Olympics was highlighted, calling for support from all stakeholders. He emphasized the preservation of pencak silat as Indonesia’s cultural heritage and aspired for its inclusion in the Olympic Games. These efforts to promote pencak silat align with Indonesia’s dedication to fostering collaboration for peace and unity through sports. The country’s commitment to promoting sports as a symbol of peace and resilience reflects a collective objective of ensuring a secure and inclusive sporting environment worldwide.
