ASPN INSIGHTS: Indonesia is Changing Sports Equality

Indonesia

Author: 

Mr. Andi Rahman (Assistant Director Sport for Disability Ministry of Youth and Sport)

Mrs. Khurotul Aini (Lecturer at Islamic University 45)

President of the Republic of Indonesia Mr. Jokowi has a long-term plan, namely towards a Golden Indonesia 2045 by realizing Indonesia as a sovereign, advanced, and sustainable archipelago. To achieve these ideals, transformations are carried out including (1) social transformation; (2) economic transformation, and (3) governance transformation. Social transformation includes a) health for all, b) equitable quality education, and c) adaptive social protection. One of the efforts made by Indonesia is the aspect of equitable quality education and adaptive social protection provided to people with disabilities. Protection for people with disabilities is one indicator of the success of Golden Indonesia 2045.

Currently, Indonesia has carried out guidance, training, and evaluation of programs for athletes with disabilities. Indonesian disabled athletes have great potential to compete on the international stage, this can be seen from the 4 Indonesian disabled athletes who succeeded in making the nation proud, including: (1) Muhhamad Bejita (swimming athlete) at the 2018 Malaysian Asian Para Games event by winning 2 gold medals for the 100-meter backstroke swimming category in 1 minute 3.6 seconds and the 50-meter freestyle swimming in 25.98 seconds. (2) Jendi Panggabean won a gold medal in the 200-meter swimming race in 2 minutes 33.37 seconds in ASEAN The Games were held in 2017. (3) Dimas Prasetyo won 3 gold medals at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles for badminton and (4) Stephanie Handojo won a gold medal at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games which took place in Athens, Greece. To get seeds for athletes with disabilities in Indonesia, the National Student Paralympic Week or PEPARPENAS X will be held in 2023.

Previously, the history of Peparpenas was the National Disabled Student Sports Week (POPCANAS), which was born in 2003, which was the idea of ​​Mr. Raden Isnanta who currently serves as Deputy for Sports Culture. The foundation of Popcanas was motivated by a strong desire to build equality and opportunities for students with disabilities to compete nationally, with the spirit of Popcanas being able to echo the spirit of sports equality, even though at that time there was no disability law. Popcanas is held every two years with the first edition of Popcanas being held in Jakarta and has now changed to Peparpenas.

Peparpenas X for 2023 Logo

Peparpenas X activities will take place from 9 July  to  5 August 2023 in Palembang Sport and Convention Center Palembang City, South Sumatra. The opening ceremony was opened directly by the Governor of South Sumatra, Mr. Herman Deru with the Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Dito Ariotedjo. The Minister reminded the PEPAPERNAS He also stated that Peparpenas is a multi-faceted sport which has been the main key to Indonesia's success so far, where Indonesia became the overall champion 3 times in a row at the ASEAN Para Games. The Governor of South Sumatra also added that the Peparpenas event had the effect of improving the economy for the community and would produce new champions, and new seeds, especially in South Sumatra, to become superior national and international athletes.

Athlete's Joyful Face When Winning a Medal

On another occasion, the results of an online news interview with Mr. Isnanta, as the founder of the founding of Peparpenas, stated that Peparpenas activities were held to provide a learning space for students with the conditions they have and to provide space for self-confidence that children with disabilities are able to excel and defend Indonesia's name on the world stage through sports. The theme of Peparpenas Peparpenas From 38 provinces in Indonesia, this activity was attended by 25 provinces with a total of 711 athletes plus around 900 officials who were part of the contingent. In Peparpenas X, Central Java became the overall champion with 23 gold medals, 12 silver and 6 bronze medals.

MEDAL TALLY PEPARPENAS SOUTH SUMATERA 2023

NO	PROVINCE	CODE	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
1	Central Java	JTG	23	12	6	41
2	West Java	JBR	16	8	12	36
3	Papua	PPA	13	10	4	27
4	East Java	JTM	10	11	6	27
5	Bali	BAL	9	5	8	22
6	DKI Jakarta	DKI	8	9	6	23
7	West Kalimantan	KBR	7	2	2	11
8	North Sumatera	SMU	6	3	6	15
9	Special Region of Yogjakarta	DIY	4	7	2	13
10	East Kalimantan	TKM	4	6	2	12
11	West Sumatera	SMB	4	3	7	14
12	South Kalimantan	KLS	3	3	7	13
13	Aceh	ACH	2	6	1	9
14	Gorontalo	GOR	2	1	1	4
15	Riau	RIU	1	4	1	6
16	Banten	BTN	1	1	6	8
17	Riau Island	KPR	1	1	1	3
18	Bangka Belitung	BBG	1	1	0	2
19	South Sumatera	SMS	0	6	5	11
20	Jambi	JAM	0	3	2	5
21	Bengkulu	BKL	0	2	1	3
22	South Sulawesi	SSL	0	0	5	5
23	North Maluku	MAU	0	0	1	1
24	Lampung	LAM	0	0	0	0
25	West Nusa Tenggara	NTB	0	0	0	0
TOTAL			115	104	92	311

Source: Competition Field Peparpenas 2023

The medals that have been achieved to date are a gift for student athletes with disabilities in Indonesia. Their achievements that need to be recognized are waiting to be given appreciation like normal athletes, starting from the cultivation and development of athletes. Indonesia needs to develop the potential of its champions to realize the ideal of disability equality in competing sports on the international stage.