Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, seized 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 cherished cultural heritage of Indonesia. Emphasizing the values of discipline, resilience, and peace embodied in pencak silat, he highlighted its significance beyond martial arts. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat not only teaches self-defense but also promotes harmony and peace among its practitioners.
Minister Dito articulated Indonesia’s aspiration to elevate pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience and elevate its international recognition, potentially as a part of the Olympics. He believes that sports, exemplified by pencak silat, embody principles of security resilience that can contribute to nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Indonesia’s endorsement of the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme reflects its commitment to leveraging traditional and modern sports to empower youth and enhance resilience.
Drawing insights from the 2024 Paris Olympics, Minister Dito underscored the critical role of robust security infrastructure and preparedness for hosting major sporting events. He advocated for innovative security frameworks, intelligence sharing, and international partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia is committed to bolstering public-private collaborations, improving sports safety standards, and fostering global cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports initiatives.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to present pencak silat on the Olympic stage was highlighted, urging widespread support to realize this ambition. The focus was on preserving pencak silat as Indonesia’s cultural heritage and striving for its integration into the Olympics. These efforts align with Indonesia’s dedication to fostering unity and peace through sports collaborations. By promoting sports as a symbol of peace and resilience, Indonesia shares a common objective of creating a secure and inclusive sporting environment worldwide.
