Ambon, Maluku - Maluku Vice Governor Said Assagaff said traditional sports in Maluku should be developed to support the province`s tourism industry.
"Traditional sports are part of our culture and traditions and therefore they should be developed, preserved, and maintained to support the tourism industry in Maluku," Assagaff said here on Friday.
Assagaff made the statement at tha opening of the 7th National Traditional Sports Festival 2010 at Merdeka Square here.
According to him, traditional sports should be developed because they were not costly and easy to learn because they are part of the local people`s routine activities.
"The equipment used in Maluku`s traditional sports is easily to make because the needed raw materials are available everywhere," Assagaff said.
He said the coaching and the development of traditional sports in Maluku should be directed to education, cultural, and recreational elements.
Assagaff also encouraged the participants of the National Traditional Sport Festival 2010 to promote the upcoming international event of Sail Banda, scheduled to last from July 24 - August 17, 2010.
"I ask all components who take part in the National Traditional Sport Festival to promote Sail Banda 2010, because such an international marine event is intended to introduce our natural resources in Maluku," Assagaff said. (*)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com