SIBU: Hosting sports tournaments is one of the great ways to stimulate the economy, boost social and community development as well as promote tourism, said Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Citing the MYSED Extreme Game Challenge as an example, he said that it has attracted Malaysian athletes to come to Sibu.
“Anything (events) that gathers crowd, especially when we have a tournament like this, it will pull in hundreds of people.
“They might also come with their family and their friends. So, that will assist the tourism industries. If they come over from outside of Sibu, they will need a place to stay either in a hotel or homestay. It will benefit the small industries,” he said.
Abdul Karim also said that wherever there is an arrival of tourists, they would also look for food thus the food and beverages would also benefit.
“So, that is the reason why my ministry is trying as much as possible to organise sport events, cultural events, and music events. You can see until the end of the year we have many events every week,” he said.
On the three-day (July 22 to 24) MYSED Extreme Game Challenge, Abdul Karim said that about 100 participants coming from West Malaysia, Indonesia and throughout the state joined the tournament.
“I am very happy and I wish to congratulate the ministry together with Sarawak Extreme Sports Association (SESA) for organising this event,” he said.
There are four categories to be competed in the MYSED Extreme Sports Challenge namely BMX Stun, BMX Flatland challenge, rollerblade, and skateboarding challenge.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu and SESA president Nik Mohd Suhaily.
