KUCHING: Sarawak, as host of the 2016 Paralympics Games, will endeavour to meet the needs of the paralympic athletes.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah has expressed confidence in the state doing a good job in hosting the games.
The lack of OKU-friendly facilities, she said, would not hamper efforts in hosting the national-level games.
“Even though Sarawak is still lacking in terms of facilities, we have a volunteer force that is enough to facilitate the athlete’s movements. Initially, when we were chosen as the host for the games, the first thing that I was worried about was the mobility of our athletes.
“However, our friends at the Recreational and Sports Association for the Disabled (Pesron) have given their full confidence that we will be able to host the games like we did previously in 1996,” Fatimah said in a press conference held after a meeting with the delegation from the Youth and Sports Department, Sarawak Sports Corporation, Pesron and other agency representatives at Masja yesterday.
She added that with the high spirits shown by the committee, there was no reason why Sarawak would not be capable of successfully hosting the 2016 Paralympic Games.
Fatimah also explained that there would be advantages in hosting duties such as deciding the sports to be contested, setting rules and striving to enable participation for all athletes regardless of age.
Among those present at the press conference were Youth and Sports Department director Haris Ishak, Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee, Pesron vice president Adjohari Jamil and State Welfare director Abg Shamsudin Abg Seruji.
Sarawak have won the overall title at every edition of the biennial Paralympics since the inaugural event was held in 1994.
The state contingent again dominated the games to win for the 11th time in Perlis in August this year.