Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018 Press Conference

Speech by Chief Minister
Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018 Press Conference

11 May 2017

 

Good afternoon.

Penang will host the Asia Pacific Masters Games on 8-16 September 2018, the first time this is hosted in Asia.

This is an international multi-sport event, with Masters participants from all around the world coming to Penang to compete in 21 different sports disciplines.

In December last year, the state government signed a Host City Contract with the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), to commit ourselves to the hosting of APMG 2018. The IMGA are the rights holders to the Masters Games events.

Hosting the Games will be beneficial for Penang in many ways. It will boost Penang’s standing as a tourist destination. We're expecting at least 5000 participants for the Games, of which 60% (3000) are foreign participants who will be spending time and money here with their friends and families to compete in the Games and take in Penang’s attractions. Moreover, the economic value to us is minimum RM 20 million.

The State Government will be providing RM 4.5 million, while the Federal Government will be sponsoring RM 1 million. We will also be receiving an estimated amount of RM 2 million from registration fees, thereby reducing our expected cost to RM 2.5 million for an expected economic value of RM 20 million.

For the Penang people, having the Games in their own home state is a rare opportunity to sign up and compete in such a prestigious event. Anybody who is eligible by age can sign up for any of the 21 sports in the Games. In line with our efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle, we will give special rates for Malaysians to register so that the locals will not be left out in this world-class event.

We also have with us today, several Masters athletes who have done Penang and Malaysia proud at the recent World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand.

The 82 years old Mr. Ng Chow Seng has proven age is no barrier when he became a weightlifting champion in the 80-84 age category in Auckland. He is a retired army man who has continued to stay active in sports.

Sunny Goh and David Lee, both 70 years old, also won gold medals in the badminton men’s doubles 70+ age group category. They are both from Penang, and first time participants in the World Games.

Let us make this Asia Pacific Master Games a success and a first step towards our long journey towards making Penang a sports city.

Thank you.