KUCHING: Sarawak is set to be part of a first-ever partnership with Spanish football giants FC Barcelona, after a dialogue that had started during an official visit to Spain last year.
The idea was disclosed by Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development when he said that Barcelona’s senior management had indicated a keen interest in collaborating with Sarawak. He said the cooperation could be finalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is expected to be signed in March.
During a press conference at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) Kesinambungan Budi event, Abdul Karim said: “During our visit to Barcelona, we met with FC Barcelona’s top management, and the meeting genuinely surprised me because they expressed a clear intention to establish a collaboration with Sarawak. In fact, I had been informed earlier that they were interested in working together and were considering a form of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which may be signed around March this year.”
The minister, who is responsible for Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts as well, added that the partnership would not be football-centric. Instead, it will be broadened to include other sports, capturing Barcelona’s identity as a multidiscipline club and Sarawak’s vision of enhancing its sporting ecosystem.
Sarawak’s delegation had earlier visited FC Barcelona’s facilities, including the Spotify Camp Nou, to examine how Catalonia has combined 3 pillars of sports, culture and tourism. The visit also proved an eye-opener for stadium innovation and community development which Sarawak wish to incorporate in its development planning.
Abdul Karim pointed out that the effort shows how international organisations see Sarawak’s potential development. He said opportunities like that are an indication of how well the state can market itself internationally. “That’s something that gives you a bit of pride at times because we wouldn’t be getting opportunities like this if we didn’t position ourselves on the world stage as well as we do now,” he said.
The joint venture would also help youth development programmes, improve training standards and provide access for Sarawak athletes to learn from Barcelona, they added. It is in line with Sarawak’s overall effort to be the country’s top sports hub by combining sports and tourism as well as culture promotion.
Globally, FC Barcelona, which has a reputation as ‘More than a Club’ throughout the world, has an established track record of working with international partners to promote sporting spirit and community values. Any deal with Sarawak would be a major breakthrough for the small state, giving it exposure to global best practice and underlining its credentials as a futuristic sports destination.
Abdul Karim added that, It is important to keep the standard in all ministries because we have to work on global perception and global achievement. “Therefore, whether in sports, youth development, or other ministries, I believe we must place ourselves at a certain level to ensure that we truly live up to the expectations, perceptions and views held by global leaders towards us.”
If realised, the collaboration would unlock opportunities for Sarawak to enter into partnerships not only in football but other sports as well and position themselves as key players in international sporting channels.
