WAMENA, Nies World.tv konipapuapegunungan,or,id - The First Provincial Working Meeting (Rakerprov) of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) of the Papua Mountains Province marked a new milestone in the journey of sports development in the youngest province in the mountainous region of Papua.
The event, which involved the KONI of Papua Mountains Province, KONIs from eight regencies, and all sports branches, provided a shared space to evaluate programs, develop athlete development strategies, and strengthen sports organizations in Papua Mountains.
Semi Hisage, Chair of the First Rakerprov Committee for KONI Papua Mountains, stated that the Rakerprov was the first step in building a stronger and more focused sports foundation.
He stated that the event was made possible thanks to the support of the Papua Mountains Provincial Government through the Culture and Sports Office, which continues to focus on sports development in the region.
"On behalf of the committee, we express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to all parties who have provided support, both morally and materially, so that this first provincial working meeting (Rakerprov) can be held," said Semi at the Baliem Pilamo Hotel, Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Friday (August 28, 2026).
He hopes that through this first provincial working meeting, all KONI (Indonesian Sports Association) officials and sports branches can unite in preparing Papuan Mountain athletes to compete in various national and international sporting events.
Meanwhile, John Tabo, Chairman of KONI Papua Pegunungan, who is also the Governor of Papua Pegunungan, emphasized that KONI is not only a forum for athlete development, but also a place to build character, discipline, and leadership for the young generation of Papua Pegunungan.
John Tabo stated that KONI must be a place for all officials and sports professionals to learn to build a professional organization.
"This is an organization where we learn. The first things we must develop are self-discipline, time management, and respect for assigned responsibilities," he said.
He reminded all KONI district and sports branch officials to make sports organizations a place to prepare the future generation of Papua Pegunungan.
"Leaders must prepare the next leader, not limit or bring down other leaders," he emphasized.
Furthermore, Governor John Tabo urged all sports elements to maintain unity and refrain from bringing political differences into the organization's duties.
According to him, differences in politics are part of democracy, but after the political process is over, all parties must unite to develop the region.
"Politics is like a sporting event. There are winners and losers, but after the match, we still respect and support each other," he explained.
On the occasion, John Tabo also emphasized the importance of serious athlete development. He mentioned that of the approximately 41 sports under the auspices of the Papua Mountains KONI, 25 have undergone a verification process and will be prioritized in the development of work programs.
"We must carefully review these verified sports, discuss them, and prepare them for future events, at the regional, national, and international levels," he said.
He expressed his appreciation for the achievements of Papua Mountains athletes at the 21st National Sports Week (PON) in Aceh-North Sumatra, where they brought home six medals.
According to him, this achievement marks a historic first for Mountainous Papua, a new province capable of achieving success in a national sporting event.
"This is a historic first for Mountainous Papua. Therefore, athletes who have already achieved success must be prioritized in development," he said.
However, John Tabo reminded that sports development must be aligned with the region's financial capabilities. As a new province that does not yet have significant Regional Original Revenue (PAD), the government needs to develop targeted programs.
"We must assess the regional financial situation. Sports development continues, but it must be well-designed to produce achievements," he said.
He hopes that the First Regional Working Meeting of the Papua Mountainous KONI will produce strategic programs capable of producing superior athletes and further enhancing Mountainous Papua's reputation at the national and international levels.
"This is a historic milestone for us. Let's sit together, discuss, and develop sports in Papua Mountains so that in the future we can produce a generation of achievers," John Tabo concluded.