TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Papua Governor Lukas Enembe said the province is ready to host the 20th National Sports Week (PON) in 2020. The 20th PON will hold most of its events in the cities of Jayapura and Timika.
The two cities, he said, have the best infrastructure. "Their transportation systems are also good," he said during a press conference on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.
Lukas admitted that the costs required to hold the sports week will be relatively large because the prices of goods in Papua are generally more expensive compared to other provinces in Indonesia.
"The estimated budget is between Rp10 trillion and Rp15 trillion for the facilities and the organization, in total," he said.
According to Lukas, all of it will be financed by the provincial budget, the private sector, and non-government organizations.
He said Papua will not set high targets for the next PON. "We'll be happy if we can land a spot in the top five or top ten."
Tono Suratman, chairman of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI), the 20th PON in Papua will hold events in five districts and cities: Jayapura, Timika, Wameda, Biak and Merauke. There will be at least 30 sport branches for athletes to compete in.
AHMAD FIKRI
