Bid to host two major international sports events in 2019

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KUCHING: Sarawak will bid to host two international events in 2019.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in announcing this said the first is the Asian Masters Athletics Championship.

He said Sarawak was keen as the event has the potential to attract over 5000 athletes and officials from all over the Asian region.

He added that the state government would also bid to host the World Paralympiad Swimming championship.

“The state government, through my Ministry, is very keen in bidding to host these two events as we know this will boost our position to be one of the regular sports tourism destinations in this region,” he said at the opening ceremony of the 31st Malaysian International Open Masters Athletics Championships at the Sarawak Stadium here yesterday.

About 700 athletes and officials from 20 teams including Singapore, Nepal, India, Brunei, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, South Africa and Peninsular Malaysia are taking part in the championship.

Abdul Karim said the Masters championship is for those who have been in competitive competition before, but then they are still not being forgotten.

The minister also took pains to explain Sarawak’s vision to promote sports tourism which he said has become big business now.

“So when the sportsmen and sportsmen are here to participate in any international championship, they can also visit interesting places in our state, which are well connected to Kuching.

“Athletes and officials can spend a little bit of time in any place in Sarawak after the competition, relax themselves with their families and also see what Sarawak has got to offer,” he said.