SPORT – The XXI National Sports Week (PON) will be held in 2024 in Aceh and North Sumatra. This national scale sports competition, which is participated in by all provinces in Indonesia, is a competition that athletes look forward to competing for medals, including the contingent from Papua. At PON XX 2023 Papua had the opportunity to host the event. This is progress felt by sports activists in Papua, from the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) at the Papua level to various major sports federations in Papua such as the All Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Papua and the All Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) Papua. The sports facilities used during PON are a legacy for athletes in Papua. The best quality talents in Papua are now supported by national level facilities that can be used at any time to practice and prepare for competitions.
Other aspects must be focused on physical preparation and facilities, athletes representing Papua in the upcoming PON also train mentally. Competition at the national level certainly does not only require adequate physical abilities, but also a mental level that is ready to face opponents. A tough mentality can actually be more superior after being physically strong. Mental formation cannot be done immediately like forming a tough physique, but it requires a lot of knowledge and experience. Athletes who previously competed in PON then helped provide directions to future athletes regarding the atmosphere and conditions of national level competitions.
Knowledge regarding how the rules apply is very important because it will be useful when practicing according to the portion. Then, additional information regarding athletes who often encounter doping cases also needs to be taken. There are several vitamins or supplements that are considered doping, but athletes are not aware of this, so they will actually trip up athletes when they are tested for doping.
The hopes of the athletes and administrators who represent Papua in PON in Aceh and North Sumatra can certainly increase from the previous edition which was held on their own. The target achievement is of course at least the same as the previous one and is of course expected to be even more brilliant. Therefore, various kinds of preparations really need to be done physically, mentally, and also according to the match rules.
