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High-stakes PON begin in restive Papua
After a year's delay due to the pandemic, the 20th National Games started in Papua over the weekend under heavy security -- the first major sporting event in the restive easternmost region of Indonesia and despite virus concerns.
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An aerial view of some of the National Games (PON) 2021 venues in Papua. Pictured are the soccer, diving and track and field venues. The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry said on July 24, 2021, that five venues had received international certification and have been handed over to the local administration. (PUPR handout/-)
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fter a year's delay due to the pandemic, the 20th National Games (PON) started in Papua over the weekend under heavy security -- the first major sporting event in the restive easternmost region of Indonesia and despite virus concerns.
The games are taking place until Oct. 15 in and around Jayapura, as well as in the regencies of Mimika and Merauke, and will be followed by the National Paralympic Games from Nov. 2 to 15.
The government seems confident with hosting the games safely, even after a string of clashes between authorities and Papuan rebels occurred in Papua and West Papua in the weeks leading to the games and recent international scrutiny of how the government treats its human rights activists in Papua.
More than 7,000 athletes are participating in the quadrennial games, some of whom had arrived a week earlier for the preliminary matches held ahead of the opening ceremony in Jayapura on Saturday, when President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gave his speech.
Infrastructural development
Jokowi said that the hosting of the games showed that infrastructure development and the people in Papua had progressed to the point of being able to host a major national event.
