Kuching to become first Asian city to host World Para Swimming C’ships

KUCHING: A memorandum of understanding ( MoU) was signed between Paralympic Council of Malaysia ( PCM) and the state government yesterday to jointly organise the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships.

Kuching was announced as host last year – making it the first- ever Asian city to host the biennial competition.

According to a press statement, some 70 0 swimmer s f rom 75 countries are expected to compete in the ninth edition of the championship, which will be held at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre on July 29-Aug 4 next year.

It will also serves as one of the qualifying events for swimmers to secure a place at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

The MoU was signed by PCM president SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin and permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Spor ts Hii Chang Kee during a ceremony at a local hotel here.

It was witnessed by PCM deputy president Ng Keng Chuan and Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive Dr Ong Kong Swee.

Also present were Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth, Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; and Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan.

SM Nasarudin (second left) and Hii (second right) sign the MoU as Abdul Karim (standing centre), Fatimah (standing third right), Snowdan (standing third left) look on. Also seen are Ng (seated left) and Ong (seated right).