Fatimah (third left) symbolically hands over the BP Run t-shirt to Tai, while (from left) Dr Toh, Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) deputy chairman Oliver Kuo, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee and others look on.
SIBU: For the first time, a team of 42 special athletes from Special Olympics Sibu Chapter will take part in the 4km run of the fifth edition of The Borneo Post (BP) Run here on Aug 31.
This has become a source of pride for Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, who is president of Special Olympics Sarawak.
Saying it showed their determination and courage, she praised The Borneo Post for organising the event which will help to promote integration, and encouraged other organisers to emulate the fine example.
“I have always encouraged integration and inclusiveness, encouraging organisers to open (the participation) to allow our Special Olympics athletes to participate together with the mainstream.
“We thank The Borneo Post for giving our athletes that opportunity. We would also like other organisers to do the same.
“In that way, our athletes and our children with special needs would always feel they are part and parcel of society,” Fatimah told reporters yesterday after the symbolic ceremony to hand over the BP Run T-shirts to Special Olympics Sibu Chapter chairman Jason Tai.
Association for Children with Special Needs Sibu secretary Dr Toh Teck Hock too praised the organiser of BP Run for opening the run to everyone.
According to Toh, the special athletes taking part in the run are teenagers and young adults from various schools here.
He added SEGI University, as part of its inclusive training programme, would be sending 42 students to run alongside the special athletes.
Meanwhile, the run is divided into five categories – 8km Men’s Open, Ladies’ Open, Boys’ Junior and Girls’ Junior and the 4km Fun Run.
The closing date for registration is Aug 21 at 3pm and the entry fee is RM15 for Men’s and Ladies’ Open, RM10 for Boys’ and Girls’ Junior and RM10 for the Fun Run.
See Hua Group chief operating officer Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming told The Borneo Post recently that the annual run had attracted more than 2,200 runners.
In the inaugural run in 2011, it attracted some 600 runners and the number rose to 800 in 2012 and increased further to 1,000 in 2013.
Lau recalled that last year, about 1,600 runners took part in the BP Run.