Banking on sports to unite and foster bonds

KUCHING: A Unity Sports League Programme got underway in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday.

It was flagged off by National Unity Minister, Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, with the primary objective being to strengthen the bonds between various races and cultures, using sport as a platform.

In his speech, Aaron said that history has proven that sport has an extraordinary ability to unite people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

“From football pitches to community sports, sport embodies important values such as discipline, cooperation, and sportsmanship. These are values that all of us, regardless of race, religion, or culture, can learn and practise in our daily lives,” he said.

He added that sport is a universal language that transcends boundaries and breaks down barriers between people.

“Let us make sport a medium to enhance our love and pride for our country. With this collective effort, may we build a more united, harmonious, and prosperous society,” he added.

The league, marking the third edition of the programme, will run for two months, from September to October, featuring three main sports: netball, futsal, and badminton.

This year’s event is organised in close collaboration with the Department of National Unity and National Integration, the All England Netball Association, the Football Association of Malaysia, and the Badminton Association of Malaysia.

The Ministry aims to involve more than 4,000 teams, comprising 40,000 participants from various ethnic groups and backgrounds.

The competition will be held at both state and national levels, with the national-level competition scheduled to take place on Oct 26-27, at Uptown Sport, Bandar Baru Bangi.