Jokowi to Open PON 2024 in Aceh This Evening

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Aceh-North Sumatra National Sports Week (PON) 2024 will officially open this evening, Monday, September 9, 2024, in Harapan Bangsa Stadium, Banda Aceh. According to the plan, PON 2024 will be inaugurated directly by President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to start at 07:00 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesia Time). Performances from artists and fireworks adorning the skies of Aceh will mark the beginning of the national sports event. 

In Medan, the committee for Aceh-North Sumatra PON 2024 has prepared a huge screen at Baharuddin Siregar Stadium, Lubuk Pakam, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra. 

The opening ceremony in North Sumatra will follow Aceh’s timeline, thus the event will be aired in Medan at around 08:30 p.m.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, said the preparation for the PON 2024 opening ceremony is according to target. “Tonight, we will run the final rehearsal for the opening ceremony tomorrow evening (Monday), which will be attended by President Joko Widodo,” Dito said at Media Center Aceh PON in Banda Aceh, on Sunday evening.

The minister also ensured that the games’ preparations were in their final stages. Some sports branches even started the matches prior to the opening ceremony.

According to the Sports Minister, the Aceh-North Sumatra PON 2024 is a huge feat considering its first time being held in two provinces simultaneously. The dual hosts, Aceh and North Sumatra, also changed governors multiple times, adding to the challenges in organizing PON 2024. 

Minister Dito, however, said the challenges were well-managed due to the cooperation between Indonesia’s National Sports Committee (KONI), the local government, and relevant ministries and governmental institutions.

On the same occasion, the Head of KONI, Marciano Norman, ensured the preparation of the PON 2024 opening ceremony and the participating provincial contingents. 

“The venue, and the organizing committee, are all ready. Additionally, the games equipment is prepared, so hopefully, the games will run accordingly both in Aceh and North Sumatra,” Marciano said.

PON 2024 is officially slated for September 9 to 20. However, considering the length of some of the sports branches and the venue, the games have commenced since August. This year’s PON competes 65 sports branches and involves nearly 13,000 athletes.

Thus far, the East Java contingent leads in PON 2024 with 19 gold, 11 silver, and 12 bronze. West Java follows with 12 gold, 15 silver, and 17 bronze. 

ANTARA

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