KUCHING: Special Olympics Sarawak Kuching Chapter has lined up an array of events and training for this year’s calendar.
The biggest event of all, ‘SEDC-Special Olympics Kuching Gunung Serapi Walk 2014’ aimed at bringing a group of around 100 climbers comprising athletes, coaches, volunteers and members of the public, will be held at the Matang Family Park on Aug 31.
President Datin Dayang Mariani Abang Zain who revealed this also mentioned that the event is a huge undertaking that will require immense support from all the participants.
“Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) is our core organiser. But we also need support from other corporate bodies and members of the public.
“We do need a lot of volunteers to make this event a successful one. We also encourage parents of the special Olympians to take part in the grand event,” she said after leading her group for a courtesy call on Special Olympics Sarawak chairperson Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, who is also the Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development, at her office at Masja in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
She said the event would also be an opportunity for them to raise funds and as such, she hoped more people would participate.
She also highlighted the ‘2014 Borneo Cup Football Championship’ to be held in Kota Tarakan, Kalimantan Utara in Indonesia in November.
With teams from Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei facing off each other in the championship, she said they too needed support from the public and corporate bodies to help the Sarawak team participate in the event.
Meanwhile, she said the ‘Healthy Athletes Programme (HAP) 2014’ will be held at SMK Demak Baru, Jalan Diplomatik Kuching in June to provide free medical screening for special Olympians and special children to ensure good health.
“We also call for volunteers especially doctors and those from medical departments. We will inform the dates for the football championship and the HAP later,” she said.
Other events to be held, she disclosed, are ‘Inaugural Members Dinner Party 2014’ at The Banquet on February 16, annual general meeting at Wisma Baitumal at Jalan P Ramlee on March 29, ‘Special Olympics Kuching Pertandingan Bowling Macam Macam Ada’ at Riverside Superbowl on May 1, ‘Special Olympics Kuching Inaugural Inter-school Bocce Competition and ‘Special Olympics Kuching Inaugural Inter-PDK Futsal Competition’, with the dates to be confirmed later.
As for courses and trainings, the ‘Community Coach Course – Seven Module (introduction to coach education system) will be held at Damai Beach Resort end of February, followed by communication skills course at Wisma Baitumal in March and First Aid skills course at Malaysia Red Crescent headquarters at Jalan Laksamana in April.
On national and international events, she said the ‘Special Olympics Sixth Mount Kinabalu Challenge 2014’ will be taking place in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from March 27 to 30.
“This event is held once in three years. We are targeting to send two mentors and two athletes for this one,” said Dayang.
The ‘JKM National Games 2014’ will be held in Kuala Terengganu in June, while the ‘FIFA 2014 Unified World Cup 11-Aside Football Championship’ will be held at State Stadium here in October.
She also mentioned that they were looking forward to the coming ‘2015 Summer Games’ in Los Angeles, USA.
“We hope our athletes will bring back home the glittering gold medals from the list of sports and games to be participated.
“Our achievement at the ‘2013 Special Olympics Winter Games’ in Pyeongchang, South Korea saw our boys delivering the goods in the floor hockey competitions and the bronze they brought home was testament of what the local special Olympics athletes can achieve when given the opportunity to shine,” she pointed out.
According to Fatimah, sports play an important role in the health and wellbeing of special people as it helps build their confidence, give them a sense of security and boosts their physical and psychological rehabilitation besides helping to change people’s attitude towards them and curb discrimination.
“Our tagline is ‘Let me win. If I cannot win, let me be brave in my attempt’. We want to provide a platform for special people to shine and prove what they can do.
“There are many talented special people who are in good sports,” she stressed.
As for the line-up of activities for this year, she hoped more volunteers — teachers, parents, corporate bodies, and medical personnel — would step forward to make their health programmes and sports events successful.