Popular Enthusiasm for the Opening Match

The Papua PON are being carried out in four regions, namely Jayapura city, Jayapura regency, Merauke regency and Mimika regency. A total of 6,300 athletes from 34 provinces will compete in 37 events and 10 exhibitions.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

The men\'s softball match between West Papua Province and DKI Jakarta at the Agus Kafiar Field, Cenderawasih University, Jayapura, Wednesday (22/9/2021). A total of three matches were played in this opening match.

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS — The Papuan people’s enthusiasm has accompanied the history of the 2021 National Games (PON) in Papua. Even though the sporting event will only officially open on 2 Oct., a number of sports matches have been held earlier, starting with the men\'s softball competition at Agus Kafiar Field in Cenderawasih University, Jayapura, on Wednesday (22/9/2021).

Residents were enthusiastic about watching the match, which was symbolically opened by Jayapura Mayor Benhur Tommy Mano and Indonesian National Sports Council (KONI) general chair Marciano Norman at around 8 a.m. East Indonesia standard time. Spectators could watch the match after their body temperatures were checked and if they were wearing masks and had washed their hands with disinfectant liquid.

The opening match of the PON, which was delayed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, took place between the men\'s softball teams of Lampung and Southeast Sulawesi. Lampung won the match with a score of 11-3.

After that was the match between Jakarta and West Papua, followed by Banten versus East Kalimantan.

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Frans Kandipi, a spectator at Agus Kafiar Field, said he was very proud and did not expect to be able to witness the PON live in Papua. "My parents and I came from Doyo village, Sentani district, in Jayapura regency, specifically to watch a softball match," he said, referring to his house, which is 20 kilometers from the arena.

Meanwhile, Baldus Toto, a farmer who was recruited as a volunteer to maintain the softball field, was very touched to be directly involved in the historic moment.

“Before, I could only watch national sporting events such as PON on television. Now, I can watch the match up close and participate as a volunteer in the softball arena,” said Baldus, who hails from Muara Tami district, Jayapura.

Benhur was very proud and commended the central government, KONI and the PON Papua Grand Committee for realizing the first large national sporting event in Papua.

"We ask for the support of the entire community of Jayapura to maintain a security situation that is conducive for the safe and successful implementation of the PON," he said.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

The spectators in the opening match of the XX National Games starting from the softball sport for men at the Agus Kafiar Field, Cenderawasih University, Jayapura, Wednesday (22/9/2021).

We implement strict health protocols for all athletes, officials, match committee members and volunteers.

The general secretary of the Papua chapter of the PON, Elia Loupatty, felt very grateful that the PON were able to be carried out in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was hitting Indonesia, including in Papua.

“We implement strict health protocols for all athletes, officials, match committee members and volunteers. We ask athletes not to do activities outside the lodging area and the competition arena in order to prevent exposure to Covid-19," said Elia.

The Papua PON are being carried out in four regions, namely Jayapura city, Jayapura regency, Merauke regency and Mimika regency. A total of 6,300 athletes and 3,000 officials from 34 provinces will participate. The athletes will compete in 37 events and 10 exhibitions.

Also read:

> Safe Papua for PON and Peparnas

> Evaluation of Pre-PON Papua Security

Dynamic index score

With regard to the mitigation of Covid-19, Papua has attracted attention because the movement of the Indonesia-Kompas Covid-19 Control Index (IPC) score has been so dynamic. In the first five weeks of measurement, since 19 July, Papua\'s condition was reasonably under control with a score above the national average. However, Papua\'s IPC-19 score from week 6 to week 9 was consistently below the national average. In the 9th week, the score dropped to 58, far below the national score of 73 that week.

Fortunately, by the 10th week of measurement, Papua\'s IPC-19 score had risen by 14 points to 72. This condition may illustrate instability in the rates of tracing and testing. As a result, the recording and reporting of data to the Health Ministry may have been unstable, thereby resulting in drastic fluctuations in scores. If this is the case, the score will not match the facts on the ground. (RGA/LITBANG KOMPAS)

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

A resident\'s temperature check before entering the softball arena at the Agus Kafiar Field, Cenderawasih University in Jayapura, Papua, Wednesday (22/9/2021).

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.