KUCHING – Sarawak is prepared to welcome athletes and delegates from across Borneo for the upcoming Borneo Games Kuching 2025, scheduled from September 24 to 28.
The event marks the revival of the regional multi-sport competition after a hiatus of over a decade, with the last edition held in Labuan in 2013. Participants will include teams from Brunei Darussalam, Sabah, Labuan, and East Kalimantan.
Morshidi Fredrick, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, emphasized that the games serve as both a competitive platform and a means to foster unity among Bornean communities.
With an allocated budget of RM7.5 million, the event will feature seven core sports, athletics, aquatics, swimming, badminton, archery, and lawn bowls, alongside traditional events like tug-of-war and chopsticks. VIP guests will also participate in a golf exhibition.
Competitions will be held across several premier venues, including the Sarawak Petra Jaya Stadium, Perpaduan Indoor Stadium, and Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre.
Morshidi highlighted the economic benefits expected from the influx of athletes, coaches, and supporters, as well as ancillary activities like a sales festival promoting local handicrafts and cuisine.
Organized in collaboration with the Sarawak Sports Corporation and state sports associations, the games aim to meet international standards.
Online athlete registration closes August 29, with volunteer training scheduled for early September. The event is viewed as a step toward establishing Sarawak as a national sports hub by 2030.