The Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, seized the opportunity at the ‘Securing the Legacy: Debriefing from Paris 2024 for Future Major Sporting Events Marking’ event in New York’s United Nations Headquarters to raise awareness about pencak silat as an integral part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage. Beyond its martial arts roots, pencak silat embodies values such as discipline, resilience, and peace, making it more than just a physical practice. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat instills practitioners with the skills to defend and protect while promoting harmony and peace.
Minister Dito articulated Indonesia’s perspective on pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience, with efforts focused on increasing its international recognition, possibly even as a part of the Olympics. He believes that sports like pencak silat embody principles of security resilience and can play a vital role in nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Indonesia is committed to the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme, utilizing traditional and modern sports to empower youth and enhance resilience.
The insights from the 2024 Paris Olympics were also highlighted during the event, underscoring the significance of 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 manage security challenges. Indonesia aims to bolster public-private partnerships, elevate sports safety standards, and foster international collaboration to combat violent extremism through sports initiatives.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to introduce pencak silat to the Olympics was prominently featured, urging support from all stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of preserving pencak silat as Indonesia’s cultural heritage and advocating for its inclusion in the global sporting arena. These promotional efforts align with Indonesia’s commitment to fostering peace and unity through sports collaborations. Indonesia’s steadfast dedication to promoting sports as agents of peace and resilience echoes a collective aspiration for a secure and inclusive global sporting environment.
