SIBU: The Sarawak Special Olympics (SO) will be establishing two new branches in April said Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development said the branches will be based in Bintulu and Samarahan.
“With the establishment of SO branches in Samarahan and Bintulu, Sarawak now has five branches actively involved in creating special sports opportunities for individuals with special needs.
“These five branches comprise Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, and Samarahan,” she said in a press conference after a meeting at Agape centre here today (Feb 1).
With the new branches, she said it will further increase participation and support for the Special Olympics throughout the state.
“Additionally, the annual general meeting (AGM) of SO Sarawak scheduled to take place this April, is an important platform to discuss the organisation’s further development and act on important related issues,” she added.
Meanwhile, on the Special Olympic Sarawak Games, the Dalat assemblywoman said that the seventh iteration of the competition will take place from November 23 to 24 this year in Miri.
“The theme for the event is: ‘Let me win. If I can’t win, let me be brave to attempt’,” she added.
Fatimah said that the events in the competition would likely include athletics, swimming, bocce, badminton and football.
“We will only know how many athletes will take part in the game during our next committee meeting in April and also after Samarahan and Bintulu chapters are formed,” she said.
At the press conference, the minister presented a grant of RM5,000 to Miri, Sibu and Kuching SO branches for their regional games and to Sarawak SO for the state-level game.
Also present were Sibu SO chairman Pemanca Datuk Jason Tai, Kuching SO chairperson Datin Dayang Mariani and others.
