APMG 2018 kicks off with torch run in Kudat
KOTA KINABALU: Kudat takes centre stage as participants and organisers gather for the official launching of the Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018 ‘torch run’ which is happening in Kudat today.
George Town mayor Yew Tung Seang, who is also the vice organising chairman of the APMG 2018, said the torch run will last 15 days in Sabah before continuing in Sarawak and later in other states ahead of the games proper on September 7 to 15 this year.
“The run here (in Sabah) will be about 672km long beginning at the tip of Borneo in Kudat to Low’s Peak (May 1), and then to the state capital (May 5) and on to Beaufort (May 7), before heading to Labuan (May 8) and to Sarawak via Limbang (on May 9),” he told a press conference at City Hall yesterday.
“The run will take a one-month break during the fasting month (May 17 to June 18) and will continue from Miri (May 14) to Bintulu (June 20) before heading to Sibu (June 23) and onward to Kuching (June 28).
“It will later continue in West Malaysia states before eventually culminating with the opening ceremony of the APMG at the Penang city stadium on September 8,” he added.
Also present at the press conference was Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai.
A total of 5,000 officials, athletes and volunteers from 34 countries were expected to take part in this Olympic-style event which happens only once every four years.
Up to 22 sporting disciplines will be contested including archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, cycling, football, golf, hockey, netball, pencak silat, shooting, softball, squash and swimming.
There will also be lion dance in addition to other sports such as table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, tenpin bowling, volleyball, weightlifting and wushu.
Towards this end, Yew said the games was not only about sports but also about unity.
“The APMG is not just about sports but it is also about unity. We will have international participation and we also look forward to receiving athletes and participants from Sabah.
“We also hope that Datuk Yeo and his team can join and take part in the events,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yeo urged members of the Kota Kinabalu City Hall staff to step forward and join the games as it was a big event that should not be missed.
“I believe we have some athletic individuals among our staff...I personally would like to join sumo but unfortunately it is not being contested,” Yeo said candidly.
“However, I believe we have some individuals who can join events such as tennis, weightlifting and cycling,” he noted.
After Sarawak, the torch run continues in Kedah-Perlis-Kedah before heading to Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Melaka and onward to Negeri Sembilan, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak before concluding in Penang.
The APMG is for athletes age 30 and above.