TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Youth and Sports Ministry granted the request delivered by Papua provincial administration to use sports equipment of the 2018 Asian Games. The request was made after the meeting between Papua Governor Lukas Enembe and the ministry today, Nov. 1.

The ministry secretary, Gatot Dewa Broto, said Papua administration planned to utilize the sports tools used during Asia’s multisports event for the National Sports Week (PON) in 2020 slated to take place in Papua.

Gatot explained the ministry was currently compiling the inventory of all sports equipment used in the 18th Asian Games and Asian Para Games and the ministry would grant the request as it had obstacles to store the tools.

“We will offer the equipment because if we do not donate it, we will face the issue on our warehouse,” said Gatot today, Nov 1, in the ministry building, Jakarta.

Gatot said the ministry had already offered the sports tools from Asian Games and that would be handed out to the management of sports branch and regional administration.

Other than Papua, Gatot added, two regional administrations interested to take the offer, namely South Sumatra and Jakarta.

“If a regional administration willing to take the offer, they have to submit a request and have a warehouse,” he noted, adding that many types of sports tools were available but he did not know in details of the number.

“We set a target to deliver the equipment in November because we have to complete the financial report in December,” Gatot said.

Papua was chosen as the host of the 2020 PON. As many as 44 sports branch would compete in the multi-sports event held every four years in the country. In addition to be the host of PON, Papua would accommodate the National Paralympic Week (Perparnas).

ADITYA BUDIMAN