DALAT: More than 600 students from 15 schools in Mukah division partook in the opening ceremony of the 14th Schools Sports Council Track and Field Championship Meet (14th MSS Bahagian Mukah Kejohanan Balapan & Padang) 2017 yesterday.
The three-day event starting yesterday was held at the Stadium Perpaduan Dalat, here.
Speaking to officiate at the opening ceremony, Minister of Welfare, Women, and Community Wellbeing Datuk Hajah Fatimah wanted to see Mukah division one day to be turned into a sports powerhouse.
Fatimah who is also Dalat Assemblywoman said that it is not an impossible feat as when she was younger, Mukah was very active in sports activities despite the lack of facilities at that time.
“It is important that you must have a mission to become the sports powerhouse in the state.
“You must also have a target and identify among those who have the potential to help contribute to the sports in Mukah,” she said.
Fatimah added that quality trainers and coaches are needed, which will help develop the athletes’ potential to their maximum level.
“We also need training programmes that are consistent instead of only training when a competition is near,” she said.
Speaking on the stadium, Fatimah also added that she wished the stadium to be non-smoking zone as to cultivate an environment that is healthy.
“This is an important step as this will be a place where we will gather, to play sports, and to bring our families to.
“I want to make sure that anything that will bring about more unity and a healthier lifestyle should be encouraged more.
“But at the same time, we also need the support and cooperation of everybody else in order to make this stadium a non-smoking zone,” she said.
Meanwhile, Fatimah also donated RM8,000 to the event organising committee and also to help their student athletes.
Balingian State Assemblyman Abdul Yakub Haji Arbi, who was also present, also pledged to donate an additional RM5,000.
