Aceh Proposes Additional IDR 671 Billion for PON 2024

XXI National Sports Week was held in two provinces, namely Aceh and North Sumatra. The opening was held in Aceh.

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

The promotion of the 21st National Sports Week (PON) was displayed on the body of the transkutaraja bus, on Sunday (23/4/2024). The 21st National Sports Week is held in two provinces, namely Aceh and North Sumatra. The opening ceremony is held in Aceh and the closing ceremony is in North Sumatra.

BANDA ACEH, KOMPAS — The Aceh Provincial Government has proposed an additional budget to the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports amounting to IDR 671 billion. This budget is needed to procure competition equipment, competition equipment costs and the opening ceremony.

The Head of the Aceh Youth and Sports Agency, M Nasir Syamaun, said on Tuesday (23/4/2024) that the preparations for the 21st National Games (PON XXI) in Aceh are currently underway. The construction of the competition venues is being accelerated. Other preparations, such as promotion, competition equipment, and the opening ceremony plan, are being finalized.

However, after being examined, there is an additional budget requirement of around Rp 1,196 trillion. Of the total budget requirement, Rp 525.822 billion will be allocated through the Aceh Regional Budget (APBD) and around Rp 671 billion will be requested from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora).

Also read: Aceh-North Sumatra Commit to Success PON 2024

Nasir stated that the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Aceh has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for an additional budget. The detailed needs of Rp 671 billion are for the procurement of sports equipment worth Rp 184.507 billion, the cost of game devices (Rp 75 billion), the cost of the opening ceremony (Rp 140 billion), and additional operational costs (Rp 271.572 billion).

"We have applied and some have been approved," said Nasir.

Previously, the central government allocated a budget of around 1 trillion for the construction of sports venues, including a massive renovation of the Harapan Bangsa Stadium which will be the location of the opening ceremony.

Nineteen sports arenas are currently undergoing simultaneous renovations since January 2024. The target is to complete all of them by July 2024. Before the opening of the National Games on September 8, 2024, the competition arenas will be put to the test.

Apart from that, Nasir hopes that the renovation work process in Aceh can be accelerated so that it is completed on time. ”Venue should be ready by July. "Later, the committee will need to carry out event tests and at several main venues, a number of preparations will need to be made for the opening," said Nasir.

During a coordination meeting with stakeholders in Banda Aceh on Monday (23/4/2024), Head of Planning and Organization Bureau of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Sri Wahyuni stated that the additional budget proposed by the Aceh Government through the National Sports Committee (KONI) will be reviewed before submission to the Ministry of Finance.

Meanwhile, Essy Asiah, the Director of Strategic Planning at the Directorate General of Construction and Water Resources of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, stated that they are continuously working hard to ensure that all renovated stadiums will be completed by July, so that the committee can have time to prepare for various competition needs.

Also read: Implementation of PON is a Momentum to Improve Aceh's Performance and Economy

KOMPAS/ZULKARNAINI

Aceh Province's PON athletes are practicing weightlifting at a training center in Banda Aceh on Tuesday (12/3/2024) in preparation for the September 2024 PON.

PON XXI 2024 will be held in two provinces, namely Aceh and North Sumatra. This is the first time PON has been carried out by a joint host. Aceh itself is the first time to host the biggest multi-sport event in Indonesia.

The number of athletes and teams of officials who will take part in PON in Aceh is 10,709 people, consisting of 7,134 athletes and 3,575 team officials. While in Aceh, they will stay in hotels or homestays spread across 10 districts/cities.

Previously, the Secretary General of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) of Aceh, Faisal Saifuddin, said that Aceh is optimistic about improving its sports achievements by entering the top 10 rankings. At the 2021 XX National Games in Papua, Aceh ranked 12th.

Also read: Seven Months Ahead of 2024 Aceh-North Sumatra PON, Match Location Still Being Renovated