SPORTING SPIRIT: Runners from all walks of life, shapes and sizes filled the streets as the state-level National Sports Day 2015 celebrations kicked off at Padang Merdeka in Kuching yesterday. Many memorable activities held included a cycling fun ride and the 5 km fun run that drew over 7,000 runners to a healthier lifestyle. — Photo by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING: Some 7,000 sport enthusiasts and members from sports associations joined the state-level National Sports Day 2015 celebration at Padang Merdeka here yesterday.
The event was officiated at by Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, who flagged off two iconic programmes for the occasion, the 10km and 30km cycling fun ride, and the 5km fun run.
Performing the honours with Mawan were State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani, state Federal Secretary Datuk Mohamad Yahaya Basimin, permanent secretaries (Ministry of Social Development) Kameri Affandi and Datu Jaul Samion (Ministry of Land Development).
Other field activities included aerobic and Zumba dances, self-defence demonstrations, Fit Malaysia Festival activities which included tele-matches and Mr Gym, Frisbee and ‘Let’s Try A Fitness Appliance’ programme.
Participants who were involved in the iconic events received a certificate of attendance.
Also taking place yesterday was the first Serian Division-level National Sports Day 2015 at the Serian sports complex, officiated by Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot among some 1,000 people.
Riot, who is also Human Resources Minister, joined the participants for a brisk walk around Serian town, where he took the opportunity to meet the folks at Taman Komuniti Serian where the traders are currently put up while the market is being upgraded.
There was also kayaking at Taman Tasik Danu with lucky draws at the end of the programme.
The organisers in a statement issued to the media said the second Saturday in October every year is now gazetted as National Sports Day in Malaysia as announced by the prime minister in March.
It stated the idea came out because studies found only 30 per cent of Malaysians were active in sports as compared to 50 to 60 per cent in developed countries, and this event was held to make sport our culture.
It stated that the Ministry of Youth and Sports had been asked to implement more rigorous activities and programmes, and hence the program called ‘FIT Malaysia’ was launched on Sept 7 at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.
Nationwide, ‘Fit Malaysia’ involved 5 million students and teachers while Education Ministry sports division director Datuk Marina Chin, who was in Sarawak (Bintulu) last week for the prize presentation at Pribumi Annual schools sports for 90 primary schools from 16 districts, touted the ‘1student 1sport (1Murid 1Sukan) policy.
Mawan (second left) flagging off while (on his left) Morshidi blasts the hooter to launch the National Sport Day 2015 at Padang Merdeka. — Photo by Wilfred Pilo