Page 293 - The Guide To Sarawak

THE GUIDE TO SARAWAK
291
Sarawak’s men’s and women’s relay swimming teams proudly display their gold medals at SUKMA XV 2012 (15th Malay- sian Games) in Pahang.
as the nation’s sporting powerhouse, as well as enhancing and upgrading sporting facilities and opportunities for every sector of society, from primary school students to retirees.
An Inclusive Approach to Success
The government has
given equal priority to developing sports for physically and intellectually disabled athletes, who have responded with very impressive performances. Sarawak has a virtual stranglehold on national Paralympic success and
at the 15th Malaysian Paralympic Games in 2010, Sarawak athletes once again finished first overall. Six of the nine gold medals won by the Malaysian contingent at the 2011 Para Asia Game in Guangzhou, China, were won by Sarawak athletes.
Sarawak’s Special Olympians are equally determined and successful.
Four Sarawakians represented Malaysia at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in China
in 2011. Their success, and that of the Paralympians,
is attributed to strong
state government support; Sarawak has its own Special Olympics Games, and has successfully bid to host both the national Paralympics and Special Olympics in 2014.
Sporting Achievements
Sarawak sent its first sports
teams to the then Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958 and 1962. Since independence, Sarawak athletes have competed as part of the Malaysian teams at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, SEA Games and top international and regional competitions. As well as achieving success
in the field, pool or arena, Sarawak’s sports clubs
and associations have also achieved notable successes
The Sarawak Paralympic swimming team at the Para Asean Games, Surakarta, Indonesia, December 2011.