PON Momentum will Build Winner Mentality, says President

TEMPO.CO, Bandung - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the 19th National Sports Week (PON XIX) and the National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) XV will create a momentum for the Indonesian athletes to foster a winning mindset.

"The PON gives an opportunity to promote a sense of competition among the athletes," Jokowi said in his opening address at the PON XIX at the Bandung Lautan Api Sports Stadium, here on Saturday night.

According to the President, it should be ensured that right from the district level to the provincial and national levels, the competition in sports is fair.

This would lead to a healthy competition and a winning mindset for athletes in all sports, equipping them better to compete in world class matches.

"Good luck to the athletes and please be glorious in the land of legends, West Java Province. Please bring pride to your regions and make Indonesia proud of your accomplishments," added the President, hailing the sports people.

The president has earlier expressed the hope that the 19th National Sports Week (PON XIX) will produce national athletes capable of achieving great heights.

"We think that competition starts from the lowest level of a village, a district or a province and goes right up to the national level, namely the PON. We want to attract the best athletes at a very young age in all disciplines of the sport," Jokowi said in Bandung District, West Java, on Saturday afternoon.

According to the president, the PON, which is being held from September 17 to 29, 2016, can help athletes to make even better achievements at higher levels, such as in the SEA Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.

"I think if the competitions continue from the bottom to the national level, we will have good athletes. That is my goal," observed Jokowi.

ANTARA