By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 30: The Sarawak delegation takes note of Catalonia’s structured retirement and post-career athlete welfare practices as a valuable reference for enhancing sports welfare frameworks and long-term athlete support in Sarawak.
Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah led a delegation from the ministry on an official visit to Catalonia’s Minister of Sports, Berni Álvarez, in Barcelona this week to explore opportunities for sports collaboration and knowledge exchange.
During the meeting, both ministers exchanged views on the vital role of sports development, athlete welfare and long-term athlete support in strengthening social well-being and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Abdul Karim, who is also Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) highlighted Sarawak’s growing sports landscape, including hosting the Borneo Games 2025 in Kuching and co-hosting the SEA Games 2027, to be co-hosted by Sarawak as part of Malaysia’s national contingent preparations.
Álvarez, a former professional basketball player and coach, shared Catalonia’s structured retirement and post-career development plans that help athletes prepare for life beyond active competition.
Both sides acknowledged that they share similar values and governance structures, each having a degree of autonomy and a strong commitment to development through sports, culture and education.
Discussions also explored potential cooperation in sports management, coaching exchanges, facility development and youth programmes through friendly games and training sessions.
Abdul Karim expressed appreciation to Minister Álvarez and the Government of Catalonia for their warm reception, adding that Sarawak is eager to strengthen ties with regions that share a passion for sports and athlete development.
The visit forms part of the Sarawak official working visit to Spain, which also includes engagements in the cultural and creative industry sectors in conjunction with the International Council on Archives (ICA) Congress 2025 in Barcelona. —DayakDaily
