Although the Tokyo 2020 Olympics exemplified the successful organization of a major sporting event during the pandemic, this has proved difficult in Indonesia.
By
Kompas Editor
·3 minutes read
Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo
Officers check the blood pressure of prospective spectators for the 2021 PON XX Papua match before being vaccinated against Covid-19 at the Lukas Enembe stadium complex in Harapan Village, Nolokla Village, East Sentani District, Jayapura Regency, Papua, Tuesday (28/9/2021).
The concern over potential Covid-19 transmission at the 20th National Games (PON XX) in Papua has now become a reality. It will take commitment and hard work to make sure that the contagion does not spread further.
Papua Covid-19 task force spokesman Silwanus Sumule said that 29 PON participants had tested positive for Covid-19. The figure consists of athletes, officials and organizing committee members across the Games’ host locations, namely Jayapura municipality, Jayapura district, Mimika regency and Merauke regency.
Although the Tokyo 2020 Olympics exemplified the successful organization of a major sporting event during the pandemic, this has proved difficult in Indonesia. The lack of discipline in keeping a sterile “bubble” for PON Papua has thwarted the efforts to contain the virus. The main contributor to Covid-19 transmission are health protocol violations, such as PON participants sitting among spectators, participants not returning their lodgings immediately after a training session or competition, as well as lax inspection of vaccination certificates and the use of masks.
Indonesia’s character is certainly different from Japan’s. In Japan, disasters are an occasion for learning how to coexist with nature and everything in it. Meanwhile in Indonesia, disasters and death are considered fates that must simply be accepted. This difference in perspective shapes our identity, including the regular violation of the health protocols, because we feel as though everything is already written.
Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo
A banner calling for compliance with the Covid-19 prevention health protocol adorns the top six football match of Group D PON Papua 2021 between Papua and Aceh, at the Mandala Stadium stands, Jayapura, Papua, Wednesday (6/10/2021). Some spectators still ignore the invitation by sitting close together and without wearing a mask.
Reality shows that a pandemic is a disaster that can be overcome. Although millions have become victims, the human race will still survive in the end. Historic records show that pandemics of the bubonic plague hit the Byzantine Empire in 541-542 AD, and that the pandemics of the bubonic plague, called the “Black Death”, and the Spanish flu hit continental Europe in 1346-1353 AD and 1918-1920 AD, respectively.
Thus, in the Indonesian context, it is the time for our people to make an effort as God has determined. Let us adopt habits of a healthy lifestyle while living side by side with the coronavirus. Stakeholders must immediately gather social scientists so they can intervene and keep the people from lying down and accepting fate as is.
Testing, tracing and treatment must now be prioritized to prevent the virus from spreading further.
In the case of PON Papua, immediate mitigation must be carried out within the epidemiological framework. If all participants – athletes, officials, committee members – had taken their PCR tests before heading to PON, it means that they were infected in Papua. Testing, tracing and treatment must now be prioritized to prevent the virus from spreading further.
It is everyone’s duty to adhere to the health protocols, from PON participants to the organizers, and even spectators. More vigilance is needed in close-contact matches and events that attract large crowds. Keeping safe distance, wearing masks, avoiding crowds and washing hands are imperative. There is no more room for compromise.
Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali has emphasized that PON Papua will go on. This means staying disciplined and alert. We must not surrender to fate.
