goodmorningpapua.com – The opening of Peparnas XVI Papua was held at the Mandala Jayapura Stadium at 19.00 WIT, beginning with President Joko Widodo’s remarks.
Jokowi greets the athletes and the Papuan people via a virtual connection. In his remarks, he apologized to the athletes and the people of Papua for not being able to attend the opening of the National Tournament today.
“Pace, mace, basodara, how are you? Early, I was going to come to Papua to open Peparnas, meet amazing athletes and with pace mace basodara. But I’m sorry, I can’t attend because I have to quarantine after coming back from abroad,” he explained via online, Friday, November 5, 2021.
Jokowi admitted that on the morning of November 5, he had arrived in the country and was undergoing quarantine. He thanked the Vice President, Ma’ruf Amin, who had arrived in Papua for the opening of Peparnas.
“I voted at the closing ceremony. Papua is always in my heart. I am sure that Peparnas will be successful, full of achievements and lively,” said Jokowi to the applause of Papuans at the Mandala Jayapura Stadium.
On that occasion, the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe said that Peparnas was an event to find excellent seeds for athletes with disabilities and also a medium for equality.
“Athletes with disabilities have the same opportunity to make the nation and country proud. We are proud to be able to provide a friendly sports arena for people with disabilities,” he said.
Peparnas was attended by 1,935 athletes with disabilities from 33 provinces who would participate in 12 sports including weightlifting, athletics, badminton, chess, judo, shooting, archery, swimming, wheelchair tennis and table tennis.
The opening of Peparnas issues the theme of “Light of Victory from the East of Papua” which lifts Papuan culture and nature with a combination of LED lights, fireworks, and the most attention-grabbing attraction is the attraction of 500 drones that will decorate the ceiling of the Earth of Cenderawasih.