Labuan prepares for National Sports Day

LABUAN: Labuan is gearing up for the next weekend’s 4th National Sports Day with at least 23 sports activities under 10 segments to cater to a broad spectrum of people on the island.

The main organiser, Labuan Youth and Sports Department (JBS) had identified a suitable location for this year’s event on Oct 12 -14 at the Labuan International Sports Complex, opposite the newlycompleted RM12 million Labuan Modern Food Court.

Its director Hazzan Dahari said more than 22,000 participants were expected in the various programmes that would also feature former Labuan SUKMA athletes, people with disability (OKU) and autistic children athletes.

“We expect a huge turnout this year. We recorded 22,000 participants islandwide last year including from schools, higher learning institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government agencies and villagers despite targeting only 10,000 visitors,” he said at a press conference at the Labuan Sports Complex here yesterday.

Among other activities listed are seven kilometres National Sports Day (HSN) run, three kilometres HSN Fun Walk and Run, 30 km KSN Fun Ride, battle of water war tournament, HSN Cheer Challenge, HSN jump rope performance, Mr Body Smart, dodge ball, arm wrestling, dart, Beach Petanque, HSN explorace, traditional archery and kayak race.

Other activities would include volleyball, takraw, ping pong, aerobic, cycling, football and badminton.

Hazzan said the educational and eco-tourism activity of HSN explorace were expected to help Labuan’s domestic tourism industry.

He said a number of school athletes from Sabah and Sarawak would also be taking part in the newly-introduced programme of Labuan English Amazing Race.

There would also be about 200 volunteers from youth and sports NGOs and Rakan Muda.

He said sports programmes were becoming a trend to the people at large with a high number of people recorded taking part in many runs and expedition programmes for health since the last three years.

Hazzan also said the safety aspect of the participants was also taken into account with the involvement of relevant government agencies including the Malaysian Marine Department, Health Department, People’s Volunteer Corps and Malaysia Civil Defence Department.

“This sports programme is for all regardless of political ideology, lets together take part in the various programmes,” he said.

He also said the nine-day Karnival Meriahnya Labuan, which was part of the 23 activities, was expected to pull the crowd into the island.