Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, took the opportunity to promote pencak silat as a cultural heritage of Indonesia during 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. He emphasized that pencak silat represents more than just martial arts, embodying essential values such as discipline, resilience, and peace. As 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 underscored Indonesia’s perspective of pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience and its efforts to increase international awareness, including advocating for its inclusion in the Olympics. He believes that sports, exemplified by pencak silat, play a crucial role in security resilience and can significantly contribute to nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Indonesia has expressed its support for the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme, aiming to empower youth and enhance resilience through traditional and modern sports.
Reflecting on lessons learned from the 2024 Paris Olympics, the importance of robust security infrastructure and preparedness for major sporting events was highlighted. Minister Dito emphasized the necessity of innovative security frameworks, intelligence sharing, and global partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia is committed to strengthening public-private collaborations, elevating sports safety standards, and fostering international cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports initiatives.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to introduce pencak silat to the Olympics was acknowledged, calling for support from all stakeholders. He highlighted the significance of preserving pencak silat as Indonesia’s cultural heritage and striving for its inclusion in the Olympics. These efforts align with Indonesia’s dedication to promoting collaboration for peace and unity through sports. The country’s commitment to leveraging sports as a symbol of peace and resilience mirrors a shared objective of establishing a secure and inclusive sporting environment on a global scale.
