Looking forward to SEA Games in Kuching

I AM looking forward to watching the opening ceremony of the SEA Games scheduled for next year.

Does anybody know what the date is; what the events will take place at the stadium?

We assume that the organisers are making sure that no dates of events will clash with those reserved for the Rainforest World Music Festival.

I was looking forward to the Borneo Games, but I will settle for the SEA Games.

I would like to see news about the blowpipe included as one of the competition games.

Grateful thanks are due to the federal government for honouring Sarawak as the venue for the opening ceremony of the Games.

By then, hopefully, the Sarawak Stadium would have been fully repaired, the facilities upgraded and the equipment installed before the Games start.

I assume that a number of events will be held at the same stadium. So far, there has been no inkling about the venues in Sarawak for any other game.

Good news for a change – from the field of sports!

Malaysia has had an overdose of the other field – politics.

The motto of the Olympic Games is ‘not to win, but to take part’.

What is the motto of the SEA Games? Does anybody know it?

Sport enthusiasts in Sarawak are looking forward to participating at the South East Asia Games.

Not to be ignored are the ‘penyumpit’ (blowpipers). They are wondering if their sport has been included as one of the events.

I can tell you that they would be disappointed if they were not allowed to show their skill at an international sports festival such as the SEA Games.

Hopefully, the organisers of the Games would somehow slot in this game of skill in a championship.

The champions from Sarawak and Indonesia are looking forward to having a go at the SEA Games, now that the Borneo Games are not being held any time this year.

They were hoping to compete in the Borneo Games, but would be ready to compete at the SEA Games instead.

I think that it would not be too late to include blowpipe as a competition game held in Borneo.

What say the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports?

The burden of organising the opening ceremony is on the state government of Sarawak now that the main hurdle (funding) has been cleared.

The letter of award of a contract – for a very large sum of public money – to repair and upgrade the Sarawak Stadium to an international standard in terms of sports facilities, has been delivered.

So works on those should start immediately.

One year is not a long time. Time runs faster than the fastest athlete.

The statement published by The Borneo Post last week did not state the exact date of the opening ceremony for some reason; neither was there any mention about the events in which the athletes from Sarawak would be taking part – assuming they would qualify.

Whatever events allotted to Sarawak will attract a large crowd of enthusiasts.

If all events were to be held at Kuching only, then expect an influx of visitors to the capital; good for the local economy.

Perhaps, many visitors would take the train ride, assuming that the system under construction would be operational by the time of the Games.

Repeat, I would like the ‘menyumpit’ (blowpipe) competition to be included as an event of the Games.

There is no mention of the inclusion of competition in this game of skill.

Why?

There are excellent shooters from Sarawak – representing Malaysia in the Games – and from Indonesia.

Why are they excluded?

I wish there would be made available more information on the types of other sports which the athletes from Sarawak would likely be participating in.

This is for the purpose of guessing the number of golds that they may be able to bring home.

Now that the major hurdle, financing, has been cleared, the contractors have no time to waste.

A period of 12 months is not a long time. Hopefully, all the facilities and equipment would have to be tested, tried and functional on time for the opening ceremony.

No details yet in terms of the Games to be held at the Stadium.

The state authorities, if they are in a position to release, should release the names of all competition games.

When good facilities are available at the stadium, there will not be any excuse for the Ministry of Youth and Sports not to think big – offer to organise competitions in such sport as rugby.

Think in terms of hosting matches between the teams from New Zealand (All Blacks) and Australia (Wallabies), or even South Africa (Springbok).

Their supporters will come over to Sarawak.

Think also of bidding for hosting the Commonwealth Games.

Many visitors from the Commonwealth countries will come to our state.

No doubt there will be facilities for the local and foreign press corps at the stadium; they will do a good job for the official opening ceremony.

I hope the weather will be kind to everybody during the competitions held outdoors.

I am longing for good news about our state soccer team.

Please correct me – has the problem of salaries for players (subject to correction) been successfully sorted out?

The state stadium, once ready for all field sports, will provide a good venue for the soccer matches.

There will be no excuse for the relevant sport bodies not to seize the opportunity to hold a large-scale sports event.

Let the Games begin! Clap, clap, clap!