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 showcase pencak silat as a cultural treasure of Indonesia. He emphasized that beyond being a martial art, pencak silat embodies values of discipline, resilience, and peace. Acknowledged by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat instills in its practitioners the principles of defense and protection, while advocating for harmony and peace.
Minister Dito underlined Indonesia’s perception of pencak silat as a symbol of worldwide resilience and its efforts to increase its global recognition, including as a potential addition to the Olympics. He believes that sports like pencak silat embody the essence of security resilience and can play a role in nation-building, social integration, and conflict resolution. Indonesia is committed to utilizing both traditional and modern sports to empower youth and enhance resilience, supporting the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme.
The event also shed light on lessons learned from the 2024 Paris Olympics, stressing the importance of robust security infrastructure and readiness for major sporting events. Minister Dito emphasized the necessity of innovative security systems, intelligence sharing, and international partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia aims to fortify public-private collaborations, elevate sports safety standards, and promote global cooperation in countering violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s aspiration to introduce pencak silat to the Olympic Games was highlighted, with a call for widespread support. He stressed the paramount importance of preserving pencak silat as a cultural heritage of Indonesia and striving for its incorporation into the Olympics. These endeavors to promote pencak silat resonate with Indonesia’s commitment to fostering unity and peace through sports. By advocating for sports as a symbol of peace and resilience, Indonesia aligns with the broader global objective of ensuring a safe and inclusive sporting environment for all.
