KUCHING: Sarawak became the first state to host the management team of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, sharing their experience in organising prestigious events at the 2023 Asian Association for Sport Management (AASM) Conference.
Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said that the conference was a significant point for local sports, particularly stakeholders, to explore future potential collaborations in sports management.
“AASM 2023 featured prominent local and international speakers from various disciplines, sharing insights on key issues related to the international and local sports industries.
“The conference is not only timely but also relevant, given the government’s efforts to develop the sports industry in the country,” he said.
He said this at the AASM 2023 closing ceremony held at the Imperial Hotel here yesterday.
Snowdan believed that the event successfully elevated and inspired the quality of the sports association committee’s work for the future.
Reflecting on the conference, he acknowledged that numerous development issues were discussed, with positive responses from the audience.
“Listening and learning from experts (speakers), panel members, and the audience educated us about several pressing issues in sports as a developmental tool for the nation while promoting equality.
“The event highlighted opportunities and benefits within the sports industry and the sustainability agenda, which have been extended to many countries for development and economic purposes,” he added.
The theme of AASM 2023 was “The Asian Sport Industry and the Sustainability Agenda: Action and Education through Sport”, which aligns with the Sarawak government’s efforts to prioritise its sustainability agenda.
Snowdan emphasised that efforts prioritised capacity-building and aligning developmental routes towards sustainable development goals (SDGs).
“Capacity-building is one of the three pillars of the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy, which is one of the objectives of the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development to promote balanced sports for youth and society,” he said.
For the record, Sarawak became the first state in East Malaysia and the third in Malaysia to host AASM, with the previous conference held eight years ago.
