Between Atlanta and Us: Breaking Through Limits

Sports are structured and planned activities that require physical activity. Sports are used for all kinds of physical activities that can be performed on land, water, or air. Sports are said to be a distinct form of games and play as well as a measure of ability (competition), but sports have their own character (Mu’arifin, 2009).

Traditional sports/games are representations of inherited knowledge that have various functions or messages behind them, where in principle, games can be played by anyone interested, whether children or adults. Thus, their form remains enjoyable and delightful because their purpose is as a medium of play. Play activities that can develop psychological aspects can serve as a learning tool as preparation for adulthood. The term play is used broadly to encompass a wide range of activities and behaviors and may serve various purposes appropriate to the child's age. Traditional games are very diverse, as each region has its own types and models of traditional games, depending on customs, habits, and even magical or spiritual elements that can influence the form of a traditional game in a region. According to Kemenpora (2006), many traditional sports are influenced by local culture, magical abilities, and even art plays a role.

Traditional sports/games are a legacy from several generations passed down through the ages, carrying symbolic meanings with movements, words, and tools used. These messages are beneficial for the development of children's motor, cognitive, emotional, and social skills as preparation or learning tools for life in adulthood. The rapid development of electronic games has made the position of traditional games increasingly eroded and nearly unknown. In light of this, efforts from various parties are needed to study and preserve their existence through re-learning by the current generation through a modification process adapted to present conditions.

International and regional multi-sport events initially also originated from traditional sports and games in each cultural civilization. However, they then developed in other countries and spread to other parts of the world to be contested on a mass scale. It is not impossible that in the future, traditional sports and games originating from Indonesia will head in that direction, such as Pencak Silat, which has been contested in the Olympics, albeit only as an exhibition event. Many requirements and challenges must be overcome for Pencak Silat to stand alongside sports that have long existed and been recognized internationally.

The IndonesianaTV Cultural Channel aims to preserve and promote Indonesia's diverse culture to the wider community, both domestically and abroad, through programs that highlight various aspects of Indonesian culture, such as arts, customs, traditions, and history, including traditional sports and games. The IndonesianaTV Cultural Channel seeks to enhance public knowledge and awareness of Indonesian culture through educational and informative programs presented in an engaging and easily understandable manner for all audiences.

The cultural content related to the theme of sports and traditional games currently available on the IndonesianaTV platform is "Burden to Win." The content "Burden to Win," produced in 2022, tells the story of Ni Nengah Widiasih's struggle as a Paralympic weightlifting athlete. This documentary film narrates the difficulties faced in the career and life of athlete Ni Nengah Widiasih. Despite this, she always possesses a spirit of resilience and determination that enables her to overcome all challenges. As a disabled athlete, Ni Nengah Widiasih inspires us all to have the determination to fight against impossibilities and limitations.

Music and films are often created to inspire us all, such as the Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan, who sang the song "Reach," which was made the official song of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Who would have thought that the song tells the story of her own life journey, experiencing a severe accident that nearly took her life and broke her back? A serious injury that could have ended her career as a singer. Like Ni Nengah Widiasih, Gloria Estefan also faced ups and downs to recover her physical and mental condition until she finally rose from adversity and was invited to sing the song "Reach" at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Atlanta Olympics in the United States in 1996.

Happy National Sports Day

Some dreams

Live on in time forever

Those dreams

You want with all your heart

And I'll do whatever it takes

Follow through with the promise I made

Put it all on the line

What I hoped for at last would be mine

If I could reach, higher

Just for one moment touch the sky

From that one moment in my life

I'm gonna be stronger

Know that I've tried my very best

I'd put my spirit to the test

If I could reach

References

Mu’arifin. 2009. Fundamentals of Physical Education and Sports. Malang: UM Press.

Kemenpora. 2006. Collection of Traditional Sports. Jakarta: Kemenpora. Journal of Physical Education.

Kurniawan, Ari Wibowo. 2019. Traditional Sports and Games. Malang: Wineka Media Publisher