KUALA LUMPUR – The National Sports Council, which is organising this year’s Malaysia Games, is expecting 15,000 spectators to the fill the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras here for the opening of the Games tomorrow.
NSC sports management division director Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdullah said various events had been lined up in conjunction with the opening to be officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“We will be giving away free tickets to those who wish to witness the opening at the counter at the entrance of KLFA from tomorrow afternoon. Only 15,000 tickets are available and I hope sports fans will turn out in full force,” he told reporters here Thursday.
He said prominent sports personalities Datuk Lee Choong Wei (badminton), Sazali Abdul Samad (bodybuilding), S. Kumar (hockey) and three senior athletes who had competed in the Games previously would be participating in the baton run.
Other highlights, he said, were performances by Malaysian rock stars Ramli Sarip and Man Kidal (real name Abdul Rahman Mahmood), a cultural performance by a Kuala Lumpur City Hall troupe, a tattoo by members of the Armed Forces and fireworks displays.
The Games involve a total 3,368 athletes from 14 contingents, with 129 gold medals. The Games will comprise of 19 sports – aquatics, track cycling, bodybuilding, handball, netball, basketball, futsal, beach volleyball, judo, kabaddi, canoeing, cricket, fencing, rowing, table tennis, tennis, rugby, silambam and softball.
The waterpolo and tennis competitions begin today at the National Aquatic Centre and the Jalan Duta National Sports Complex respectively.
CJMY
Rob Thomas
Admin
