Jayapura, 5/3 (Jubi) – The chief of the Papua Sports Committee ( KONI Papua), Klemen Tinal said Papua is ready to host the National Games ( Pekan Olahraga Nasional) in 2020.
He said 67 percent of facilities and infrastructure have been completed for the event.
“The rest 33 percent will be completed if Papua is chosen to be the host,” Tinal told reporters in Jayapura, Papua on Wednesday (5/3).
Within three days, Papua KONI will fly to Jakarta on Saturday to attend a meeting of the Indonesia Sports Committee (KONI) from 8 -12 March to decide the top three candidates shortlisted to host PON. At the meeting, six provinces bidding to host the games will be given an opportunity to make presentations . The six provinces that are bidding to host the 2020 PON are Central Java, Aceh, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, Bali and Papua.
“We hoped that Papua can be entrusted to host the 2020 PON,” he said.
“From total 51 votes, there are 26 votes out of 33 provinces in support of Papua. Now, we are seeking support of the sport which are total 50 sports to secure our position,” he explained.
Earlier, head of Papua Development Planning Board (Bappeda), Muhammad Musa’ad, said preparations to host PON has been outlined in the Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMD) and the 2014 budget has been allocated.
“The next stage in the planning process in 2014 will be the year of planning for facilities and infrastructure in Papua and also will list existing facilities, “said Musa’ad. (Jubi / Alex/ Tina)