Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, 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 showcase pencak silat as a significant cultural heritage of Indonesia. He underlined how pencak silat transcends mere martial arts, embodying values of discipline, resilience, and peace. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat instills in practitioners the skills to defend and protect, promoting harmony and peace.
Minister Dito highlighted Indonesia’s perspective on pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience and its efforts to raise its international profile, including advocating for its inclusion in the Olympics. He believes that sports, particularly pencak silat, uphold principles of security resilience and can play a role in nation-building, fostering social cohesion, and resolving conflicts. Indonesia is committed to supporting the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme by leveraging both traditional and modern sports to empower youth and enhance resilience.
The event also drew lessons from the 2024 Paris Olympics, emphasizing the critical need for robust security infrastructure and preparedness for major sporting events. Minister Dito stressed the importance of innovative security frameworks, intelligence sharing, and global partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia aims to bolster public-private collaborations, elevate sports safety standards, and promote international cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to showcase pencak silat at the Olympics was put forth, calling for unified support from all stakeholders. He underscored the significance of preserving pencak silat as a cornerstone of Indonesia’s cultural heritage and striving for its inclusion in the global sporting arena. These efforts to promote pencak silat resonate with Indonesia’s dedication to fostering cooperation for peace and unity through sports. The country’s commitment to presenting sports as a symbol of peace and resilience underscores a shared goal of establishing a secure and inclusive sporting environment worldwide.
