Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, showcased pencak silat as a cultural gem of Indonesia during the global sports initiative event ‘Securing the Legacy: Debriefing from Paris 2024 for Future Major Sporting Events Marking’ at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He emphasized how pencak silat transcends mere martial arts, embodying values of discipline, resilience, and peace. Acknowledged by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat instills in its practitioners the skills to defend and protect, while also advocating for harmony and peace.
Minister Dito expressed Indonesia’s perspective on pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience, with efforts underway to raise its profile internationally, including lobbying for its inclusion in the Olympics. He believes that sports, such as pencak silat, echo the essence of security resilience and can play a role in nation-building, fostering social cohesion, and resolving conflicts. Indonesia has pledged its support to the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme, committing to leverage traditional and modern sports to empower youth and bolster resilience.
The insights drawn from the lessons of the 2024 Paris Olympics were underscored, underscoring the necessity of robust security infrastructure and readiness for significant sporting events. Minister Dito stressed the importance of groundbreaking security frameworks, intelligence cooperation, and global alliances to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia is focused on strengthening public-private partnerships, elevating sports safety standards, and nurturing international collaboration to combat violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s aspiration to see pencak silat featured in the Olympics was highlighted, with an appeal for comprehensive support from all stakeholders. He accentuated the importance of preserving pencak silat as a vital element of Indonesia’s cultural legacy and striving for its integration into the Olympics. The endeavors to promote pencak silat resonate with Indonesia’s commitment to fostering unity and peace through sports collaboration. Indonesia’s dedication to positioning sports as a beacon of peace and resilience mirrors a shared objective of ensuring a secure and inclusive global sporting landscape.
