MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM – Medan Mayor, Rico Waas, officially opened the Pekan Olahraga Pelajar Kota (Popkot) Medan 2026, or Medan City Student Sports Week, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The opening ceremony took place at the Balai Desa Helvetia complex and brought together around 1,100 student athletes from various schools across Medan.
Also present at the ceremony were
KONI Medan Chairman Aswindy and the Acting Head of the Medan Education and Culture Office, Laksamana Putra Siregar.
Talent Development Through Early Sports Exposure
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Rico Waas emphasized that Popkot serves as an essential platform for identifying and nurturing young sporting talent in Medan. He noted that the event plays a strategic role in building a structured pathway for future athletes.
"Today, we hope Popkot continues to produce new sporting talents in Medan—from early youth to adulthood," Rico Waas said.
He also underlined that sporting success does not come instantly, but is the result of discipline, consistency, and strong mental resilience.
"Becoming a champion is our shared goal. Standing on the podium and making your family and yourself proud begins with a long process—serious commitment, discipline, and good routines," he added.
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"Protect your talent. Stay on the right path in sports and avoid drugs, online gambling, and other dangerous influences," he stressed.
Twelve Sports, 320 Medals at Stake
Read Also: Medan Authorities Move Quickly to Resolve Jalan Pekong Access Wall Dispute During the opening event, the mayor interacted directly with several young athletes on stage, including Adrian Nicolas, a black-belt judo athlete from SMA Negeri 11 Medan; six-year-old climber Rayan Arutala; and karate athlete Cut Nadin Fitriani from SMP Negeri 14 Medan.
The event was marked by an enthusiastic atmosphere, with loud applause from students attending the ceremony.
According to T. Chairuniza, Head of Medan Youth and Sports Office, the competition features 12 sports disciplines, including badminton, chess, wrestling, judo, karate, climbing, pencak silat, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, and boxing.
Popkot Medan 2026 runs from May 21 to May 26, 2026, with a total of 320 medals up for grabs—92 gold, 91 silver, and 137 bronze. The event is funded through Medan City's 2026 regional budget (APBD).
Read Also: Medan and Australia Strengthen Cooperation in Investment and Education The opening ceremony concluded symbolically with the release of balloons by the mayor together with officials and participating athletes.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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