Natasha Jee & Amyra Varkisa
SIBU: A new community sports centre worth RM13.9 million has finally opened and is also the venue of a two-day 6th Special Olympics Sarawak State Games which kicked off on July 2.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg declared open the centre named Azman Hashim Community Sports Centre, after the AmCorp Group Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim.
Abang Johari conveyed his appreciation to Azman, where under his charitable foundation – Azman Hashim Foundation had pledged to donate the full fledge sports centre in 2019.
“Indeed this sports centre will provide facilities to train athletes, and at the same time produce world-class athletes just like Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg,” he said when declaring open the sports Centre and 6th Special Olympics of Sarawak State Games here on Friday evening.
Abang Johari also thanked Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah for developing sports for para athletes and hoped that Sarawak would again be the champion of this year’s Para Sukma 2022.
Meanwhile, Fatimah in her speech said that the launch of the new sports centre and also the Special Olympics (SO) games was very meaningful especially to the people with disabilities (OKU).
“This gives its own status to the SO games in Sarawak and is a recognition of the philosophy of unity, togetherness and inclusivity supported by the state government,” she said.
She disclosed that the SO Sarawak was established in 1998 and was officially registered on Aug 2, 2001, with its branch in Kuching, Miri and Sibu.
“Sarawak plans to spread the SO to other parts of the state to further empower people with special needs by participating in sports activities,” she said, adding that the mission of SO Sarawak was to provide year round sports training and athletic competitions for individuals with disabilities.
She added that thus far, there were 830 athletes involved in SO Sarawak along with 100 unified partners and coaches.
“SO provides the opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities to continue to develop their physical fitness, demonstrate change, experience joy and involvement in sharing of skills and friendship,” she said.
She hoped that the SO Sarawak would be a platform to foster integrity and inclusion in differences and at the same time, continue to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship among athletes and the community.
On the 6th Special Olympics of Sarawak State Games, she said that 360 athletes, 154 volunteers and 106 coaches were involved and athletes would be competing in seven events namely swimming, bowling, track and field, bocce, football, badminton and table tennis.
Fatimah also thanked SO Sibu led by Pemanca Datuk Jason Tai, as the organising committee as well as volunteers who helped make the event a success.
“I would like to thank all involved for making the Healthy Athlete Programme (HAP) at the Special Olympics village a success,” she said.
