PON: In search of a better format

PON: In search of a better format

By Johannes Nugroho

SURABAYA (JP): The outbreak of the economic crisis two years
ago appeared to mark the beginning of a succession of ruinous
incidents against this nation and its identity. The past two
years have seen nothing but further subjugation as well as
humiliation of Indonesia on the international scale. Battered by
financial scandals, human rights abuses as well as destitution,
Indonesians would not have anything to celebrate as a nation if
it had not been for the victorious badminton players in the
Thomas Cup.

Sports, some people say, are the last bastion of chivalry. It
is arguably the most condoned form of confrontation between
countries, which in the end fosters nationalism. The most extreme
typification of the jingoistic disposition of sports would have
to be Hitler's Olympic Games in 1936.

Through the international games, the Fuhrer endeavored to
affirm the supremacy of the Aryan-cum-Nordic race by their
physical prowess. He was sorely disappointed when a black
American athlete, Jesse Owens, was proclaimed gold medalist.

Down Under, Australians have been tempted to redesign their
flag as they frequently fail to differentiate it from the New
Zealand one at the Commonwealth Games. Numerous Australian
republicans feel that the presence of the British Union Jack on
both countries' flags undermines the sense of national identity.

On the national front, Surabaya is hosting the first ever
National Games (PON) in the so-called reform era.

At first glance, one of the National Games' chief objectives,
apart from celebrating sportsmanship, is to nurture the unity and
understanding between divergent ethnic groups in the country. In
light of the embryonic separatist movement of the recent years,
the Games indeed serve as an opportunity for Indonesians to come
together as a nation and celebrate. They also present an
opportunity to soothe the maimed integrity of the nation.

However, the almost apologetic-sounding definition of the
National Games, "a cesspool of athletes of disparate ethnic
backgrounds from across the nation striving for excellence,
competing for the greater glory of humanity" and somehow "united
by the common bond of sportsmanship" is paradoxical.

How could an event which succors competitiveness in the name
of the athletes' regional attachment strengthen the bond between
people of different provinces? Would the medal tallies for all
the provinces, splashed across the newspapers and TV screen
daily, not foster a sentiment of regional pride?

Historically, the tallies for the Games since its inception in
1948 uncannily mimic the political and economic polarization
within the republic. Under the so-called Old Order, the tallies
were lacking in regularity when compared to the ones under
Soeharto's regime.

The first National Games of September 1948 in Solo saw the
emergence of the host city as the biggest medal collector with 16
gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze, trailed by Yogyakarta with 11
gold, 9 silver and 3 bronze. In contrast, Jakarta ranked 10th --
outdone even by Malang at 7th -- with the modest 2 silver and 2
bronze.

In the political sphere, Sukarno-Hatta's government had to
evacuate its administration in early 1946 from Jakarta to
Yogyakarta due to the presence of Dutch troops in the capital.
The following year also witnessed the formation of numerous
"states" within the Republic of Federated States of Indonesia
(RIS) provisions for which were arranged in the Linggarjati
Agreement between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

The second PON of 1953 in Jakarta, which had become the
nation's capital again, found the province of West Java as winner
with 21 gold and Jakarta as the runner-up with 17 gold. The next
three PONs in Medan, Makassar and Bandung, respectively recorded
three provinces alternately as the big three, namely West Java,
Greater Jakarta and East Java.

Along with Soeharto's New Order, Indonesia's new "political
and economic DNA" began to be mapped out. The new regime was
Jakarta-centric and held very tight reins of centralized
political power to the disadvantage of the provinces.

The concentration of the national wealth in Jakarta has
produced a huge economic gap between the capital and the
provinces. By the end of Soeharto's era 75 percent of all the
funds in Indonesia were circulated in Jakarta with East Java
coming second. The phenomenon has been reflected in the PON
tallies since the 7th Games of 1969 in Surabaya, the first one
under the New Order.

Results indicate that Jakarta probably has the best sports,
medicinal facilities and human resources, hence ensuring its
supremacy in the Games. The question is whether this needs to be
flaunted through the results of PONs which arguably further
inflames regional dissatisfaction as the tallies only proclaim
the disproportionate distribution of national wealth.

The present collection of East Java medals far above that of
Jakarta's seems to have finally reversed the trend of Jakarta
victories.

However, in due course, a new format of National Games should
necessarily by adopted to further enhance the reconciliatory
nature of the incumbent administration. The most sensible way,
albeit contentious, to lend more credibility to PON's sloganistic
virtues would be to abolish province-based grouping for team
sports such as soccer, basketball, etc.

Under a new system, all the provinces in Indonesia would send
their team-sports athletes as they normally would, although well
in advance of the Games, to a resort or compound designated for
PON. Then by random selection, the athletes would be grouped
together, preferably with others from different provinces.
Instead of dubbing the teams as the Jakarta or East Javanese
team, they would only be known by the name of their team.

By making athletes of different regions work together, the
reformed PON would not only be the first one of its kind in the
world but also be better qualified to encourage a sense of
national reconciliation.

The athletes' acquaintance with their compatriots from other
provinces would not be just the cursory brush on the field as it
is under the present system. Instead the games would be a
catalyst for the athletes to resolve and accept the differences
between themselves for a common goal, true sportsmanship and
excellence.

Nor would such arrangements deprive athletes of their regional
identity and individuality, as individual athletes such as
boxers, weightlifters, badminton players would still compete on
an their own behalf as well as for their province.

Indonesia, if not for anything else, must strive to become a
nation in which differences co-exist. Furthermore, as a nation,
we are still in need of symbols and catalysts for the unity that
we seek.

A reformed PON which does not celebrate the supremacy of
certain parts of the country would be the perfect vehicle for a
display of national togetherness. Internationally, it might even
serve as an example to the world that competition is unlikely to
bring about understanding between different races as the Olympic
Games claim to accomplish.

The move towards such obliteration of regional pride is
undoubtedly bold. Nonetheless, the proposal aspires to transform
an institutionalized quadrennial national sports event into a
more meaningful and harmony-forging celebration of differences
through sports.

As a nation we must absolutely regard it as an opportunity for
a leap from tribality to a higher consciousness as a nation.

The writer works at the international language program in
Surabaya.