Secretary to the Minister of Youth and Sports Gatot S. Dewa Broto has asked athletes participating in the PON XX National Games in Papua to abide by the arrival and departure times arranged by officials.

It is mandatory for provincial delegates to arrive in Papua three days before their match date and depart a maximum of three days after the conclusion of the match, he said, adding that the measure is meant to prevent COVID-19 infection among athletes.

“Therefore, athletes are no longer allowed to stay longer just to wait for fellow athletes completing their match,” Broto said during a discussion on health protocols for the PON XX in Papua and the 2021 World Superbike event in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, on Thursday.

Officials will also require athletes to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test at departure and arrival, he added.

The ministry intends to imitate the same health protocol regime that was implemented during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo at the PON XX National Games, Broto said.

“But due to budget constraints and other factors, we cannot completely imitate the health protocols implemented during the 2020 Olympics at the PON Games,” he noted.

Besides regulating provincial delegates’ arrival and departure times, PON officials will limit the number of spectators to 25 percent of a sporting venue’s total capacity, he said.

“We agree to bar the match spectators to a maximum of 25 percent from the total capacity, and the 25 percent already includes the athletes and officials, health workers, match committees, media crews, and other relevant officials,” Broto informed.

The ministry and stakeholders will collaborate to ensure the smooth conduct of the PON XX National Games, he added.

Officials will also conduct evaluations at several competitions that will be held this week before the PON Games officially open on October 2, 2021, he informed.

Source: Antara News