USU Public Relations – The Indonesian Literature Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), organized the "Playing Community: Traditional Games as Cultural Sports" event on Friday (July 10, 2026). The event was held to preserve and revitalize cultural identity within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences.

 

The Vice Dean for Education, Student Affairs, and Alumni Affairs of FIB, Dr. Zulfan, S.S., M.Hum., explained that the event was designed as a strategic initiative to preserve Indonesia's national cultural heritage. Moving forward, the faculty plans to hold the program regularly every two weeks, with the faculty's departmental student associations taking turns overseeing the technical preparations.

"The Faculty of Cultural Sciences has planned to organize this event every two weeks. Each departmental student association (HMJ) will take turns being responsible for organizing the event and preparing all the necessary equipment," Dr. Zulfan explained.

 

He also emphasized that the synergy between the faculty leadership, study programs, and the student executive body is expected to produce outstanding talents who are ready to compete at both national and international levels.

"In the future, if there are competitions at the national or international level, FIB will already have talented participants prepared to represent the faculty," he said.

 

Furthermore, Dr. Zulfan expressed his hope that future editions of the event would become even livelier, featuring a wider variety of traditional games and greater participation from the entire academic community.

"I hope the next event will be even more vibrant, with the student associations preparing more traditional games. Most importantly, I hope all members of the FIB academic community will actively participate and enliven the event," he added.

 

On the same occasion, the Head of the Indonesian Literature Study Program, Emma Marsella, S.S., M.Si., stated that the event was an initiative of the Vice Dean for Education of FIB as part of the faculty's commitment to preserving cultural sustainability, while the Indonesian Literature Study Program was entrusted with organizing its implementation.

"This Traditional Games as Cultural Sports event was initiated by the Vice Dean for Education of FIB to support cultural sustainability, while the Indonesian Literature Study Program is responsible for its implementation," said the Head of the Indonesian Literature Study Program.

 

The event featured a variety of traditional Indonesian games, including jump rope (lompat karet), gobak sodor, and pecah piring. Once cherished as childhood favorites among many Indonesian children, these traditional games were reintroduced as a means of promoting togetherness, sportsmanship, and the preservation of local cultural heritage amid the rapid advancement of the digital era.