Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, used 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 to promote pencak silat as a cultural heritage of Indonesia. He highlighted how pencak silat goes beyond martial arts, embodying values of discipline, resilience, and peace. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat teaches practitioners to defend and protect, promoting harmony and peace.
Minister Dito emphasized that Indonesia views pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience and is working towards making it more widely known internationally, including as a part of the Olympics. He believes that sports, like pencak silat, reflect principles of security resilience and can contribute to nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Indonesia supports the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme, committing to utilizing traditional and modern sports to empower youth and increase resilience.
Lessons from the 2024 Paris Olympics were also highlighted, emphasizing the importance of strong security infrastructure and preparedness for major sporting events. Minister Dito stressed the need for innovative security frameworks, intelligence collaboration, and global partnerships to manage security challenges effectively. Indonesia aims to strengthen public-private partnerships, enhance sports safety standards, and foster international cooperation to counter violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to bring pencak silat to the Olympics was mentioned, with a call for support from all parties. He emphasized the significance of preserving pencak silat as Indonesia’s cultural heritage and striving for its inclusion in the Olympics. The efforts to promote pencak silat align with Indonesia’s commitment to fostering collaboration for peace and unity through sports. Indonesia’s dedication to promoting sports as a beacon of peace and resilience reflects a shared goal of ensuring a safe and inclusive sporting environment globally.