Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, seized the opportunity to showcase pencak silat as a valuable cultural heritage of Indonesia during the global sports initiative event ‘Securing the Legacy: Debriefing from Paris 2024 for Future Major Sporting Events Marking’ held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Highlighting the deeper essence of pencak silat beyond mere martial arts, he emphasized the values of discipline, resilience, and peace that it embodies. With its recognition by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat not only teaches self-defense but also promotes harmony and peace among its practitioners.
Minister Dito conveyed Indonesia’s aspiration to raise the international profile of pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience, aiming for its inclusion in events like the Olympics. He believes that sports, exemplified by pencak silat, can mirror principles of security resilience and contribute significantly to nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Indonesia’s commitment to utilizing traditional and modern sports to empower youth and increase resilience aligns with the objectives of the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme.
Drawing key lessons from the 2024 Paris Olympics, Minister Dito stressed the critical importance of robust security infrastructure and preparedness for major sporting events. He emphasized the necessity for innovative security frameworks, intelligence sharing, and global partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia’s strategic focus includes enhancing public-private partnerships, elevating sports safety standards, and fostering international cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of bringing pencak silat to the Olympics received a resounding endorsement, calling for comprehensive support from all stakeholders. The preservation of pencak silat as an integral part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage and the push for its integration into the Olympics underscore the country’s commitment to promoting collaboration for peace and unity through sports. Indonesia’s unwavering dedication to championing sports as a beacon of peace and resilience mirrors the collective goal of establishing a secure and inclusive sporting environment worldwide.
