By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, April 17: Kuching will host the 7th Special Olympics Sarawak State Games from May 2 to 5, 2025, bringing together 356 athletes, five delegation heads, and 100 coaches, officials, and escorts for 52 events across seven key sports categories.
Sarawak Minister for Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, announced that this year’s state-level Games — held biennially — will be hosted by the Kuching Chapter of Special Olympics Sarawak, with participation from five divisions: Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, and the newly-formed Kota Samarahan chapter.
“This competition is not just about athletic performance. It is a platform for persons with intellectual disabilities to showcase their talents and potential in sports,” she said at a press conference at her office in the Baitul Makmur 2 Building here today.
Fatimah added that the 2025 State Games will mark Kuching’s second time hosting the biennial event, with the first having been held in 2018 at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
Although Kuching was initially slated to host in 2024, the plan was deferred as Sarawak was instead selected as host for the Para Sukma XXI that same year.
The seven sporting categories for this year’s edition are athletics (track and field), swimming, badminton, bocce, table tennis, tenpin bowling, and football (5-a-side). Each category includes multiple events, bringing the total number of competitions to 52.
According to Fatimah, the athletics component will feature 13 events, swimming will include 12, badminton will have 15, bocce and table tennis will each feature four events, tenpin bowling will host three events, and football will involve one event.
She said the State Games also play a crucial role in identifying and selecting athletes who will represent the Special Olympics Sarawak Chapter at the Second Special Junior Development Sports Carnival 2025, scheduled to take place from June 28 to 29 at Kompleks Sukan Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh in Perak.
“This forum allows us to evaluate our athletes and prepare them for the next level of competition. It’s about building confidence and nurturing growth,” Fatimah said.
Fatimah further noted that the 2025 State Games will be held across five main venues: Stadium Negeri Sarawak for track and field events and football (Padang D); Dewan Sukan Yayasan Sarawak International School for bocce and badminton; Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre for swimming and the Healthy Athletes Programme (HAP); Sarawak Sports Village for table tennis; and Megalanes Emart Batu Kawa for bowling.
Fatimah emphasised that the Games reflect Sarawak’s commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and dignity for persons with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual challenges.
“These Games provide an opportunity for our athletes to participate, engage, and be recognised—not just for winning, but for having the courage to try.
“Apart from the competitions in the seven sports, we are also holding a Healthy Athletes Programme that comprises health promotion, fun fitness, fit feet, special smiles, opening eyes, and healthy hearing,” she added.
Fatimah, who also serves as chairperson of Special Olympics Sarawak, said the event aligns with the global Special Olympics movement’s philosophy, which values participation and effort above medals.
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt—that’s the Special Olympics motto, and it truly captures what this movement is about.
“All participants will be getting a medal, with gold, silver, and bronze awarded to the top three finishers while the rest will get something similar to that of a medal so that they will have a sense of achievement,” she said.
Preparations for the Games are said to be in their final stages, with athletes, coaches, and contingents expected to arrive in Kuching in early May. — DayakDaily
