Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) - Governor of West Java M. Ridwan Kamil stated that the holding of the 2023 National Public Recreational Sports Festival (Fornas VII) provides benefits to the economy in Bandung District and its surroundings.
"Hotels are fully booked and restaurants are crowded with visitors. The economic activities have doubled," the governor remarked on the sidelines of the festival's opening ceremony at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung District, on Sunday (July 2) evening.
Governor Kamil deemed both competitive sports and public recreational sports as important. Through recreational sports events, he expects that the people will be healthy and joyful at the same time.
"The most important thing is to sweat, be happy, and pursue achievements according to your respective sports. Do not forget to keep doing exercises," he remarked.
The governor also expressed his pride in West Java while stating that the province's sports performance is one of the best in Indonesia, as evidenced by its success in winning two consecutive National Sports Week (PON) editions in 2016 and 2021.
"I have also been awarded as the best sports instructor, so I think West Java is appropriate to host sporting events," he noted.
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Kamil then expressed hope that West Java's contingent would become the champion at this year's Fornas.
"Hopefully, we will emerge as the champion, and it should be noted that there are two types of sports, namely Olympic (competitive) sports and the public (recreational) one," he pointed out.
The festival's opening ceremony was also attended by Youth and Sports Minister (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, Bandung District Head Dadang Supriatna, and heads of governments of provinces, cities, and districts.
The 2023 Fornas was symbolically opened by Menpora, Menko PMK, Governor Kamil and his spouse, and Supriatna, who fired slingshots.
Earlier, the opening ceremony also featured various arts and cultural performances.
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