Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir has interpreted the 81st\nanniversary of the Republic of Indonesia\u2019s independence as a momentum to\nbuild the courage of the younger generation to raise the Red and White\nflag on the world stage. Minister Erick, accompanied by his wife\nElizabeth Tjandra Thohir, attended the 81st Independence Day\ncommemoration ceremony at the Merdeka Palace courtyard in Jakarta on\nMonday (17\/8\/2026).<\/p>\n
According to the minister, independence is not only interpreted\nthrough annual celebrations. The spirit is also realised through the\ncourage of the nation\u2019s children to demonstrate achievements at the\ninternational level, especially athletes who carry Indonesia\u2019s name in\nvarious world sporting events.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, independence is our courage to raise the Red and White flag\nabroad or on the international stage, especially the athletes who are\ncurrently competing for the SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympics,\u201d said\nMinister Erick.<\/p>\n
He assessed that athletes who strive to bring honour to Indonesia\u2019s\nname on the international stage are true heroes. This spirit, he said,\nmust also go hand in hand with the unity and integrity of the younger\ngeneration in welcoming the 100th anniversary of the Youth Pledge.<\/p>\n
The minister said young people have an important position in\ndetermining the direction of the nation\u2019s future. Therefore, they need\nto be given sufficient space to develop and demonstrate their abilities\nin various fields so that more of the nation\u2019s children are able to\nbring honour to Indonesia\u2019s name at the international level.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndonesia is a great nation. We must dare to dream and fight to\nbring honour to the Red and White on the world stage. This spirit of\nindependence is what must be instilled in Indonesia\u2019s young generation,\u201d\nsaid Minister Erick.<\/p>\n
The 81st Independence Day ceremony took place solemnly in the Merdeka\nPalace courtyard with President Prabowo Subianto acting as the ceremony\ninspector. The procession continued with the raising of the Red and\nWhite flag by the Paskibraka.<\/p>\n
In the main Paskibraka formation, Celina Olivia Apriani Theo from\nWest Kalimantan was entrusted as the bearer of the Red and White flag.\nMeanwhile, I Nyoman Harya Dhanurendra Darmamukti from South Kalimantan\nserved as the flag hoister, while M. Aryo Wira Zandhyka Y from Bengkulu\nbecame the flag unfurler.<\/p>\n
The series of commemorations was then closed with a flypast\nattraction by fighter jets in the skies of Jakarta. A number of aircraft\ncarried the Red and White flag and the 81 logo as a symbol of the spirit\nof independence and national togetherness in commemorating 81 years of\nIndonesia\u2019s journey as a sovereign state.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-erick-thohir-interprets-independence-as-courage-to-achieve-on-the-world-stage-1786981935", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }