Around 6,200 students from 34 provinces are taking part in the National Student Games in Semarang, Central Java, from Sept. 10 to 21. The Games feature 21 sporting events and four exhibition events of roller skating, fencing, wall climbing and wushu.

Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Imam Nahrawi beat the drum along with Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and organizing committee chairman Sri Puryono to mark the official opening of the event.

“The National Student Games are an important foundation for the development of sports in Indonesia to make sure that we will not lack talent in the future in any sport. Potential students can come from villages and schools. With proper training, they can become elite athletes competing in single or multi sporting events to represent the country on the international stage,” the minister said.

Imam also asked all participants to uphold sportsmanship and honesty. “We’ve learned a lot from the [just concluded] SEA Games [in Kuala Lumpur]. A lack of sportsmanship tarnished the events. We could feel it and it was painful,” he said.

The Indonesian contingent in the SEA Games last month alleged that host Malaysia behaved unsportingly in several events, causing Indonesian athletes to lose.

Meanwhile, Ganjar hoped that the participants could enjoy Semarang.

“Bring something home for your family. I hope the organizers can look after our guests properly, from athletes and officials to the referees,” he added.

The opening ceremony was marked with a mass dance by 300 students from SMK 8 state vocational school in Surakarta and a performance from the Police Academy’s Cendrawasih marching band corps.

Host Semarang sent the largest delegate with 496 people, comprising 383 athletes, 80 coaches and 30 officials. Meanwhile Papua sent 200 athletes.

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