Rock climbing is a sport that is popular with people in South West Papua. The reason why this sport is popular, among other things, is because of the supportive nature in the province. There are many cliffs that have the potential to become places for rock climbing sports. Apart from that, quite a lot of young people in South West Papua have also taken the initiative to do rock climbing, supported by several students from universities there. Rock climbing activities are carried out while filling your free time and at the same time keeping your body healthy. As explained at the beginning, the favorable natural conditions also attract attention because of the natural beauty which makes many people interested in rock climbing in South West Papua.
The high interest in rock climbing has made the Regional Government of South West Papua Province move quickly. Strong synergy is needed between the government and other parties in order to utilize the potential of rock climbing. One way to do this is by forming and inaugurating the Management of the Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation branch of South West Papua Province. The existence of an official federation will make it easier to train prospective rock climbing athletes as well as provide a clear bureaucratic flow. Apart from that, some strategic planning can also be carried out by the federation for various kinds of activities in the future.
The potential for rock climbing in South West Papua is not just about producing professional athletes. Although the main aim of establishing the federation is to provide facilities and infrastructure to support prospective athletes in pursuing a professional career and participating in various competitions. The potential beauty of the cliffs in South West Papua is also a concern for this newly inaugurated federation. Sports and tourism are two things that can be offered to athletes who train and also tourists who want to visit while trying sports that can be said to be quite extreme.
It is hoped that rock climbing tourism can be popularized in South West Papua, making this sport even more popular among the public. There are several things that need to be addressed, especially those related to safety because this quite extreme sport of rock climbing clearly must ensure that anyone who takes part in it remains safe. Young people who like rock climbing are also given education regarding safety and are also told the rules that are often used in competitions so that when practicing they can get a feel for the rules that usually apply in competitions. So that when the time comes to compete like at the National Sports Week, the athletes will no longer be awkward because they have already trained with the established rules and standards. It is also hoped that there will be an increase in tourists who want to try rock climbing in South West Papua because they are guaranteed to be able to enjoy the sport while enjoying the natural beauty that exists.
