2024 Para SUKMA Athletes To Be Placed In 19 Hotels - Fatimah

KUCHING, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Athletes competing in the 2024 Malaysia Para Games (Para SUKMA) in Sarawak from Sept 22 to 28 will be housed in 19 hotels in the city centre, said state Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.

She said they would be placed in hotels that are near the sports events that they will be competing in to facilitate transporting them to the venues.

"This way, we hope there will be more interaction between the para-athletes from the 15 contingents. Not only do we want to see the para-athletes competing in the 10 sports, but we also want to make sure there is social interaction,” she told a media conference at the launch of the 2024 Para SUKMA Main Media Centre here today.

She added that by bringing together the para-athletes from different contingents at one accommodation venue, they would be able to foster a spirit of integration, understanding and unity among the para-athletes, in line with the SUKMA 2024 theme of ‘Semangat Perpaduan Membara’.

The 10 sports to be contested at the Para SUKMA - athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, bowling, boccia, lawns bowls, powerlifting, archery and chess - will involve 328 events.

The venues for Para SUKMA are the Sarawak Stadium; Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre; Sarawak BDC Badminton Association Hall; SJK Chung Hua No. 3; Megalanes E-Mart Batu Kawa; Sarawak Netball Association Hall; Petra Jaya Multipurpose Arena; Sarawak State Youth and Sports Department Multipurpose Hall; Petra Jaya Archery Range and Hotel Raia.

Para SUKMA was introduced in 2001 as a platform for para-athletes to compete in various sports and, thus, increase the awareness and involvement of people with disabilities in sports.

-- BERNAMA