Youth and Sports Ministry wants more participation in future editions of Special Olympics

PETALING JAYA - Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh hopes that more athletes with disabilities can get involved actively and be selected to bring the country's challenge in future editions of the Special Olympics World Games.

She said the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) was now actively looking to unlock potential talent from that group to ensure Malaysia is strongly represented at the prestigious games.

"The National Sports Council (NSC) and I will see what other help and support the ministry can give to coaches, especially because it is not easy to train them (athletes with disabilities),” she told reporters after the Jalur Gemilang flag-handing over ceremony to the Malaysian contingent heading to the 2023 Special Olympics World Games today.

Earlier, Hannah announced that a total of 16 athletes will disabilities will carry the country's challenge at the games in Berlin, Germany taking place from June 17-25.

The Special Olympics World Games is a sports event for persons with disabilities. A total of 26 events, including badminton, athletics, bowling and cycling, are featured.

Hannah said MSN had previously channelled funds totalling RM160,000 as part of the national contingent’s preparations for Berlin.

Separately, she said NSC and KBS have completed the paperwork for the 2023 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) race scheduled for September.

"It is slightly unique this year as the new (revised) budget was only just submitted in April (after Budget 2023 was re-tabled in February) and so on, but the NSC is still ready to make the preparations and we are still working on it,” she said. - BERNAMA