KUCHING: The Great Rimba Zumbathon – a zumba event – will be held at the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) headquarters at Jalan Kumpang, off Jalan Ong Tiang Swee here on August 10.
The event, which features multiple fitness activities, is organised by Place Borneo Sdn Bhd and supported by the State Youth and Sports Ministry.
Place Borneo chief executive officer (CEO) Mona Manap said the event would be held in conjunction with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples observed on August 9 every year.
The Great Rimba Zumbathon is expected to attract 300 or more participants.
“The Great Rimba Zumbathon celebrates The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples with a Rainforest-themed Zumba dance-a-thon for people of all ages to enjoy,” she told a press conference during the launching event by Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan here yesterday.
Mona also said that a zumba education specialist from Korea Seon Young Moon had been invited to the event.
“We will have a specially curated zumba fitness dance party, an informative talk on indigenous topics for The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and food, fitness and wellness bazaar for the whole family to enjoy,” she added.
The tickets are priced at RM60 for early birds (till end of June), RM75 (Aug 9) and RM85 (Aug 10), and every RM2 of the registration fee will go to charity by helping Penan students.
Mona also revealed that the objectives of the event were to promote a healthy lifestyle through energetic zumba moves as well as other fitness activities, provide a holistic fitness carnival where different workouts are introduced as well as provide various free health screening options to the participants.
It is also an event for the whole family where the Zumba Gold category will focus on the older generation as it uses less impact and milder movements.
The event will incorporate talks organised by “Kamek Kitak” to promote the sharing of stories on fitness, indigenous people and health.
Meanwhile, Snowdan said the ministry fully supported the event, and hoped that it would be able to attract participants from other states and countries.
He added that such event should be supported as it promoted healthy lifestyle and unity.
He also hoped that the event would emulate the success of Sarawak International Marathon event, which had been able to attract 12,000 participants including international participants.
DBNA representative Jane Dripin, meanwhile, thanked the organiser for choosing the association’s premises for the event, adding that the venue was open for such activities, especially in support for the indigenous groups including the Penan.
