Pencak Silat: Indonesia’s Cultural Heritage Promoted at the United Nations
Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, took the opportunity during the global sports initiative event ‘Securing the Legacy: Debriefing from Paris 2024 for Future Major Sporting Events Marking’ at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to showcase pencak silat as a significant cultural heritage of Indonesia. Beyond its martial arts roots, pencak silat embodies values of discipline, resilience, and peace, making it more than just a physical practice. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat teaches its practitioners vital skills of defense and protection while promoting principles of harmony and peace.
Minister Dito highlighted Indonesia’s commitment to raising international awareness of pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience. He expressed Indonesia’s aspiration for pencak silat to be included in the Olympics, believing that sports like pencak silat can embody principles of security resilience and contribute to nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. By supporting the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme, Indonesia aims to empower youth and enhance resilience through a combination of traditional and modern sports.
Lessons drawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics were also noted, stressing the importance of robust security infrastructure and preparedness for major global sporting events. Minister Dito underscored the necessity of innovative security frameworks, intelligence sharing, and international partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia is committed to strengthening public-private partnerships, elevating sports safety standards, and fostering global cooperation to counter violent extremism through sports.
The vision of President Prabowo Subianto to introduce pencak silat into the Olympic Games was echoed, calling for support from all stakeholders. Emphasizing the importance of preserving pencak silat as a cornerstone of Indonesia’s cultural heritage, efforts are being made to advocate for its inclusion in the Olympics. These endeavors align with Indonesia’s dedication to fostering peace and unity through sports activities. Indonesia’s commitment to promoting sports as a symbol of peace and resilience mirrors a collective goal of establishing a secure and inclusive global sports environment.
