KUCHING: 1,268 runners were flagged off for Sarawak Youth Run 2019 by Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at Le’Park recreational park today.
The sports programme organised by the Tourism, Arts, Culture Youth and Sports ministry included three categories of the run which are 4KM veterans, 5KM women and 7KM men. The programme also included activities like youth wall climbing, skateboarding, street soccer, basketball and netball.
“We want to see the youth to be active in programmes like these therefore the state government are trying their best to engage with the youth,” said Abdul Karim.
He added that the ministry was concerned with the youth’s lifestyle which include video gaming instead of being active in sports.
“Video games used to be a leisure activity but today it is known as a sport (e-sport) which made me worry for their health as they become engrossed in video games.
“The youths must find the balance in this lifestyle where they can have the proper time to play video games and spend time to be with their friends and participate in sports programmes,” he said.
The programme began with a Zumba session at 6.30 am followed by the flag off ceremony at 7.30 am. The run then followed up with the prize-giving ceremony for the top ten runners for each category and a lucky draw contest to conclude the programme for the morning.
The prize pool for the Sarawak Youth Run 2019 for the top ten runners in all three categories were RM300 for the champion, RM200 for first runner up, RM100 for second runner up, RM80 for fourth place and RM60 for fifth place.
The remaining five runners would receive RM50 each and a finisher’s medal would be given to the first fifty runners for each category who crossed the finish line.
Also present at the flag off ceremony were Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Hii Chang Kee and Padawan Municipal Council deputy chairman Dato’ Ahmad Dato’ Sri Ibrahim.
