Traditional Sports in Aceh: Conditions and Challenges of Preservation in The Present Era

Abstract

Traditional sports are physical activities that are passed down from generation to generation in a community or nation as part of cultural heritage. The challenges of preserving traditional sports in Aceh are complex and diverse. One of the main challenges is the declining interest of the younger generation due to the influence of technological developments and digital games that attract their attention more than traditional sports. This study aims to look at the condition of traditional sports in Aceh in the current era and how efforts to preserve them. This research uses qualitative method with descriptive analysis approach. Data sources were obtained from the results of literature studies and observations of current phenomena. The results showed that there are traditional Acehnese sports that still exist but more are no longer played. The main problem is the influence of modernization which makes the younger generation no longer have an interest in playing traditional sports. In an effort to preserve it, the government and the community need to work together through the introduction and development of traditional sports through formal education and local curriculum, government support at the regional and central levels in the form of policies and funding, and the provision of community forums and regular events to carry out and reintroduce traditional sports.