Live broadcast available for Sukma XXI opening ceremony

KUCHING: Those unable to secure tickets for the opening ceremony of the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI) this Saturday (August 17) can still catch it live on television.

Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that due to the stadium’s seating capacity, which is limited to 40,000, not all interested attendees will be able to watch the ceremony in person.

He explained that a significant number of seats are already allocated to performers and athletes, leaving limited availability for the general public.

“Additionally, parts of the stadium are being used for the stage, so the space is limited.”

For those unable to secure a seat, large screens will be set up at the nearby Celebration Square, where the event can be viewed live.

The entire opening ceremony will also be broadcast on television, allowing those from outside Kuching and other regions to participate virtually.

He said this when met by reporters after officiating the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts’ (MTCP) Innovative and Creative Circle (ICC) 2024 at Raia Hotel here on today (August 12).

He was surprised to find out that the public were willing to queue since early morning just to get the tickets.

“This shows the public’s confidence in the months of preparation that have gone into making the opening ceremony a spectacular event,” he added.

In the early hours of Monday morning, hundreds began queueing at the Sarawak Stadium to collect tickets for the opening ceremony.

The Sarawak Implementation Monitoring Unit is distributing a total of 7,500 free tickets for the public until tomorrow, starting at 10am.

Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar will grace the opening ceremony, and will feature performances by local artists, with 1,800 participants involved in cultural presentations.

Sukma XXI will run from August 17 to 24, featuring 488 events across 37 sports in nine divisions throughout Sarawak. The entire event will be broadcast live on TVS, RTM, and UKAS.