PANGKALPINANG - Athletes from all of Indonesia competing in the National Athletic Competition 2024 for students of central and regional coaching centres (PPLP/D) and sports vocational schools (SKO) were warmly welcomed by the municipality of Pangkalpinang.
They were invited to have dinner by the mayor of Pangkalpinang in his official residence on Sunday night (4/7/2024). The acting governor of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Babel) Dr. Safrizal Z.A. and his high-ranking officers also attended the dinner.
In his remarks, Safrizal welcomed the athletes, coaches, officials, and Deputy for Sports Achievement Improvement of Youth and Sports Ministry.
He said that it was sports development at the student’s level. It had an important and strategic role in identifying talented athletes.
“The students of PPLP/D and SKO are systematically coached to win international competitions in the future,” he said.
Therefore he expressed his gratitude to the ministry for organizing the competition in Babel.
“I’m proud because I can gather with the young athletic athletes, from all over Indonesia. I hope it can improve their future achievements at the international level,” he added.
The head of provincial Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports office Wydia Kemala Sari said that there were 54 contingents from 34 provinces consisted of 26 contingents of province PPLP, 20 contingents from PPLD, and 8 contingents from SKO. The total number was 420 athletes, 117 coaches, and 77 officials.
“The competition will be on 4th – 9th August in Depati Amir Sports Hall, Pangkalpinang. There’ll be 38 categories,” said Wydia.
The acting mayor of Pangkalpinang Budi Utama hoped that the competition would succeed. He expressed his gratitude to those who supported the competition.
He also said that his team had made a name for the province in the Traditional Sports Festival in Parigi Moutong, Sulawesi Tengah, on 11th – 14th July 2024. He was very grateful for that.
“We became the champion. There’s a possibility that we’ll represent Indonesia at the international festival. Let’s fully support Pangkalpinang’s athletes,” he said. (Irnawati/SAS)
