Achieving goals through Integrated Athletes Management System — Minister

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THE ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports will implement the Integrated Athletes Management System that utilises digital technology and high-performance science in order to achieve its goals and objectives.

Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this would further enhance the training as well as preparedness of the state’s athletes.

“We are also looking forward to the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2020 in Johor. The Sarawak Sports Corporation and the State Sports Council will be undertaking a number of initiatives that will further enhance the training and preparation of our athletes,”  he said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the DUN sitting yesterday.

He said Sarawak would also focus on sporting events, which could contribute greater number of gold medals such as weightlifting, swimming, archery, shooting and athletics.

“These sports can potentially contribute a total of 175 gold medals in the coming Sukma.”

Apart from that, Abdul Karim said his ministry is also entrusted with the implementation and monitoring of community-based sports and recreational activities throughout the state.

“We are also undertaking talent scouting and the development of sport talent with the objective of promoting active participation among the various strata of the community.”

He also said his ministry would be looking into promoting and developing Sarawak as one of the most preferred ‘Eco Adventure Sport’ destinations in Asia.

“Not only will it generate additional revenue for Sarawak through sports tourism, such events could also create greater economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs to generate income and to promote their products both locally and abroad.”

On another matter, Abdul Karim informed the august House that a sum of RM67,850,000 had been allocated for the construction and upgrading of youth and sports facilities throughout Sarawak for the period 2018 until 2020.

“Apart from the new Sports Village under the Chief Minister’s walkabout project, upgrading works on sports complexes such as the Kanowit Sports Complex began in Nov 5 while others such as Kapit Sports Complex and Betong Swimming Pool are currently ongoing (although slightly delayed) and are expected to be completed in 2019.

“The upgrading of Sarikei Sports Complex, Simunjan Sports Complex and the three Youth Camps of Pueh, Kemuyang and Mukah Phase 2 will begin in 2019,”  assured Abdul Karim.

“The impact of this direct flight will go beyond Brunei as Royal Brunei has launched its international routes to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Melbourne and London, which has smooth connectivity into Kuching,” he said, adding that the airlines will soon penetrate China and other Asia Pacific destinations, which should add greater air connectivity for Sarawak.