Eight years ago, West Papua was selected as the host of the XX National Sports Week (PON). Along with the selection, there are also hopes that the huge 2021 event will help the Papuan economy and develop new several sports infrastructures. It also marks the first time PON will be held in the easternmost province of Indonesia. The sports celebration will compete for 37 sports, 56 sports disciplines, and 679 match numbers. To hold the substantial games, Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency, Mimika Regency, and Merauke Regency play parts as the four host areas. Here are some of West Papua’s new infrastructures towards Papuan PON 2021.
Baseball and Softball Fields in Universitas Cendrawasih (Uncen)
West Papua has built sports infrastructure with international standards to host the 2021 sports event. One of them is the venue for baseball and softball, which are built on the land owned by the Indonesian Air Force (AURI) in Sentani, Jayapura district, and on the field of Cenderawasih University (Uncen) Jayapura. PT Nindya Karya (Persero) completed these venues’ projects and targeted to finish them in July this year.
According to PT Nindya Karya’s site engineer manager, the venues will consist of two grandstands. The baseball stand will have 2500 spectators, while the softball stand will have a capacity of 2000 spectators. These fields will be better than baseball and softball fields in the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) complex. So this venue is suitable for an international event.
Motorcycle Racing Circuit Tanah Miring District in Merauke
The Fregeb Waninggap Sai circuit in the Merauke cluster has been used several times for motorcycle racing events, especially road races at local and regional levels. This circuit will undergo several improvements to welcome PON 2021.
Some of the upgrades made were improvements in the racing track material to ensure better the safety of the racers, additional public stands and VIP stands, and electricity supply.
Volleyball Venue in Koya Koso, Muaratami, Jayapura
Another infrastructure towards Papuan PON 2021 is this volleyball venue in Koya Koso, Muaratami, Jayapura City. This volleyball arena has 2200 people for indoor volleyball, 623 people for sand volleyball, and seven courts with several other facilities. This arena is still under construction, and the construction is being carried out by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing of the Papua Province.
This sports complex also features athlete’s guest houses located on land belonging to the Regional Police (Polda) of West Papua. One of the things that makes this venue interesting is that the arena has high-quality German-made lights similar to those used at the Lukas Enembe Stadium. This special lamp can follow the rhythm of the music. In addition, the sand volleyball arena will also be a unique infrastructure because it will be the only sand volleyball venue in Indonesia that is located at an altitude (highland).
Jayapura Archery Field
Towards Papuan PON 2021, this archery field is ready. This venue is located in Kampung Harapan, East Sentani district, Jayapura, West Papua, with exotic panoramas of Mount Cycloop. This archery field will be the first archery venue on Cendrawasih Island. This venue is built on 1,217 square meters and has a playing field area of 10,100 square meters and 1,217 square meters, and has a playing field area of 10,100 square meters.
This archery field is also built along with rowing and roller skating venues. The archery, rowing, and roller skate arenas are done by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing and PT Nindya Karya (Persero).
Aquatic Arena in Jayapura
Papuan Aquatic Arena is, of course, one of the venues that prepared towards Papuan PON 2021. This aquatic venue, located in Kampung Harapan, Sentani district, has met the standard of the international swimming federation, Fédération Internationale de Natation, FINA Facility Rules on July 27, 2020.
This aquatic arena will be a grand Aquatic venue in Eastern Indonesia. Waskita Karya built this arena on an area of 23,124 m² with a building area of 17,733 square meters and has a capacity of 1,722 spectators.
Mimika Sports Center Basketball Court
Mimika Sport Complex (MSC) is located in Wanagon Village, New Mimika District, Mimika Regency. Mimika Sports Center is a sports complex that consists of indoor and outdoor stadiums, athlete dormitories, and other supporting buildings. One of the great things about this sports complex is that this venue has an international standard and is IAAF accredited. With a capacity of 5,500 spectators, this stadium will be used for some sports such as badminton, basketball, and volleyball indoors.
Hopefully, with the completion of several grand venues towards Papuan PON 2021, it will be the pride of the people in West Papua and all of the Indonesian people. These infrastructures will also hopefully inspire young athletes to achieve more and better.
