Rivals United: Indonesia’s PEPARNAS XVII Solo 2024 Set to Ignite Provincial Pride

4,386 athletes and officials have arrived in Solo City ahead of the opening ceremony of PEPARNAS XVII Solo 2024 (Doc. NPC Indonesia)

A total of 4,386 athletes and officials have arrived in the city of Solo ahead of the opening ceremony of the XVII Solo 2024 National Paralympic Week (PEPARNAS). This number will continue to increase considering that there are troops from three provinces who will soon be approaching Solo.

The Chef de Misson (CdM) Meeting was held again towards the start of PEPARNAS XVII Solo 2024 on 6 October to 13 October 2024. In activities at the Swiss Belhotel Solo, Thursday (3/10) evening, it was confirmed that 35 provinces were officially taking part in this event.

32 provinces had arrived in Solo as of Thursday (3/10) evening. 4,386 athletes and officials from 32 provinces have checked into 31 hotels or lodgings according to the sport they are participating in.

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Then, athletes and officials from West Papua and Central Sulawesi are scheduled to arrive in Solo on Friday (4/10). Gorontalo is the last province to arrive on Saturday (5/10).

The participation of 35 provinces that already have the management of the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPCI) is a new history in the PEPARNAS journey. At the previous event in 2021, 30 provinces sent representatives to Papua. Meanwhile at PEPARNAS XV 2016 in West Java, there were 34 provinces participating.

The General Chairperson of NPC Indonesia, Senny Marbun, was happy with the presence of the entire contingent at PEPARNAS XVII 2024. The difficulties that had occurred in 21 provinces regarding the departure of athletes and officials to Solo could be resolved.

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“For now, almost everyone is present in the city of Solo. In fact, initially, there were 21 provinces that had difficulty sending their contingents to PEPARNAS XVII. But now they can attend,” said Senny Marbun, in his statement Friday (4/10) .

Senny also expressed his appreciation to the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian, Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia, ST Burhanudin, and Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence, Reda Manthovani, who took part in helping the contingent’s difficulties in participating in PEPARNAS XVII.

“This is extraordinary because thanks to God’s help. We got help from the Minister of Home Affairs, the Attorney General’s Office, to Jamintel, finally everything worked out. After this there are still three more who will come to Solo,” he said.

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In total there are 20 sports that will be competed in PEPARNAS XVII Solo 2024, namely Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boccia, Chess, Bicycle Racing, CP (Cerebral Palsy) Football, Table Tennis.

Then there is Blind Judo, Para Weightlifting, Para Shooting, Para Swimming, Para Taekwondo, Sitting Volleyball, Tenpin Bowling, Wheelchair Fencing and Wheelchair Tennis. Two other sports, Para E-Sport and Wheelchair Basketball have exhibition status.

Competitions in 20 sports will start on Monday (7/10). Before that, athletes and officials took part in a march at the opening ceremony at the Manahan Stadium, Solo, Sunday (6/10). (I-2)