Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, recently promoted pencak silat as a cultural heritage of Indonesia at a global sports initiative event held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He emphasized that pencak silat embodies values of discipline, resilience, and peace, going beyond just martial arts. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat teaches practitioners important principles of defending and protecting, while also promoting harmony and peace.
Minister Dito highlighted Indonesia’s view of pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience and expressed the country’s efforts to raise awareness of it internationally, including as a potential part of the Olympics. He believes that sports, particularly pencak silat, play a significant role in promoting security resilience and can contribute to nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Indonesia is committed to utilizing traditional and modern sports to empower youth and enhance resilience, in support of the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme.
Lessons learned from the 2024 Paris Olympics were also discussed, stressing the importance of strong security infrastructure and preparedness for major sporting events. Minister Dito emphasized the need for innovative security frameworks, intelligence collaboration, and global partnerships to effectively manage security challenges. Indonesia aims to strengthen public-private partnerships, improve sports safety standards, and foster international cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to bring pencak silat to the Olympics was highlighted, calling for support from all parties. It was underscored that preserving pencak silat as Indonesia’s cultural heritage and advocating for its inclusion in the Olympics are essential goals. These efforts align with Indonesia’s dedication to promoting collaboration for peace and unity through sports. The country’s commitment to sports as a beacon of peace and resilience reflects a shared goal of creating a safe and inclusive global sporting environment.
