By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 4: Brunei Darussalam, Sarawak, Sabah, Federal Territory of Labuan, East Kalimantan and West Kalimantan have confirmed their participation in the Borneo Games 2025, which will take place at Petra Jaya Sports Complex in Kuching from Sept 24 to 28.
Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the regional sporting event, returning after a 12-year hiatus, will feature eight sports—athletics, badminton, swimming, lawn bowls, archery, tug-of-war, blowpipe and golf.
However, only the golf event will not offer medals as it is categorised as a VIP sport.
“The total number of gold medals so far is 124, but there is a possibility it may increase slightly to 126.
“Sabah had earlier proposed to add two more gold medals to the blowpipe event, which currently offers only two,” he told a press conference after chairing the Borneo Games 2025 coordination meeting at Baitulmakmur 2 here today.
The Games will adopt an open format with no age limit. However, athletes who have competed in the Olympic Games will not be eligible to participate, to allow more opportunities for development-level athletes.
Athlete registration will open on July 14 and close on August 29, with each contingent allowed to send one team.
The Games is expected to draw about 1,500 athletes, excluding coaches, team managers, officials and technical staff.
Beyond sports, Abdul Karim said the event will also include a side fair where participants from the region can market and sell food items, as well as arts and crafts, as part of efforts to promote local entrepreneurship and cultural exchange.
“We will liaise with respective consulates and local agencies to coordinate participation for these cultural and entrepreneurial showcases, just like what we do during the Sarawak Regatta.
“We might leave it to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, the one that is headed by Deputy Minister Datuk Ripin Lamat, to look into that part,” he explained.
The Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) has been appointed as the secretariat for Borneo Games 2025, with Abdul Karim serving as patron and Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (Youth and Sports) Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu as chairman.
Abdul Karim, who is also the Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, added that the Borneo Games—first held in 1958 in Seria, Brunei, before the formation of Malaysia—will now be organised on a biennial basis, rotating among the participating territories.
The next host after Sarawak will be decided during the Supreme Council meeting at this year’s Games, with West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and Brunei named as potential hosts.
While participation is currently limited to nations, provinces and states within Borneo, Abdul Karim revealed that several states from Peninsular Malaysia have expressed interest in joining.
“For now, we’re keeping it within Borneo, but in the future, it may be opened on an invitational basis to places like West Malaysia or even Northern Territory, Australia,” he said, citing Sarawak’s past involvement in the Arafura Games.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (Youth & Sports) Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu and Acting Consul General of the Indonesian Consulate in Kuching, Musa Derek Sairwona. – DayakDaily
