The National Sports Week 2024, also billed as “PON ACEH-SUMUT 2024,” is the twenty-first edition of the National Sports Week, a major national multi-sport event held every four years.
This year’s National Sports Week will take place from the 9th to the 20th of September 2024, with the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra serving as hosts. The opening ceremony will be held tonight (Monday, the 9th of September) at Harapan Bangsa Stadium in Banda Aceh. PON ACEH-SUMUT 2024 will be officially opened by President Joko Widodo, marking the climactic moment of the 41st National Sports Day (Hari Olahraga Nasional or Haornas) commemoration.
The Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, confirmed that preparations for the opening ceremony are on track.
“We have conducted a final dress rehearsal to ensure everything is ready for the opening ceremony on Monday night, which will be attended and opened by President Joko Widodo himself. I believe all preparations are on point,” Ariotedjo told the press on Sunday, the 8th of September.
Ariotedjo noted that the organisation and execution of PON ACEH-SUMUT 2024 are exceptional, as this is the first time the National Sports Week has been held in two provinces simultaneously.
“Thanks to good collaboration and communication, the challenges of hosting the National Sports Week across two provinces have been met, and everything is proceeding on schedule,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Aceh Culture and Tourism Office will host the Krueng Daroy Festival to promote tourism and introduce Aceh’s history to guests attending PON ACEH-SUMUT 2024. According to Almuniza Kamal, Head of the Aceh Culture and Tourism Office, Krueng Daroy symbolises the Aceh Kingdom’s glory during Sultan Iskandar Muda’s reign. The name refers to a river built by the ancient kingdom in the 17th century.
“The Krueng Daroy Festival is a joint effort to revive Aceh’s rich history and cultural heritage. It is part of a series of events we have planned as side activities for the National Sports Week,” Kamal remarked on Sunday.
This year’s National Sports Week will feature 65 sports, with nearly 13,000 athletes participating. Fireworks and performances from Indonesian artists Virzha, Tiara Andini, and Nabila Taqiyyah will highlight tonight’s opening ceremony.