President Jokowi Plays Football with Papuan Children at PON Opening Ceremony
JAYAPURA, NusaBali.com - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) surprised spectators at the National Sports Week (PON) XX opening ceremony by participating in a football game with Papuan children performing at the ceremony.
The football performance was led by Papuan footballer Jack Komboy and three Papuan children passing the ball to each other.
One of the children then directed his attention to President Widodo and requested him to join them. "Mr President, join us, support us here!" the child called out.
The President responded to the call by leaving his VVIP seat and descending the stairs to the main stage and joining the play.
Jokowi played for three minutes with Komboy and the three children, skillfully receiving and passing the ball.
After playing football, the President received a tifa -- a traditional percussion musical instrument that is native to Papua -- brought by a dancer in Papuan traditional costume.
He played the tifa, followed by other VVIP guests, thus marking the 20th PON's official opening.
After the President returned to his seat, the performances with Papuan footballer Boaz Salossa bringing the PON Games torch to the main stage and lighting the flame cauldron. A bright and scintillating fireworks show followed.
"Let us joyfully celebrate the PON XX and uphold sportsmanship, brotherhood, togetherness, equality, and unity values among us. Let us believe that Papua development will continue, and let us participate in the success of the PON," President Widodo said at the opening ceremony.
A total of 7,066 athletes from Indonesia's 34 provinces are participating in the PON XX , which will end on October 15, 2021. The athletes will compete in 37 sports, 56 disciplines, and 679 competitions. *ant
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