OCM open to possibility of Sarawak hosting 2027 SEA Games
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria has not ruled out Sarawak hosting the 2027 SEA Games.
Norza, however, said it was too early to decide, as the focus is on the Paris Olympics scheduled from July 26 to Aug 12.
“I will not say no to the possibility of Sarawak hosting the SEA Games if they are keen,” said Norza.
“They had expressed their interest, and we welcome any suggestions, but we have not had formal discussions.
“Our focus is on the Paris Olympics, that is four months away. Let us concentrate on that, as we hope to win our first Olympic gold medal.”
Norza said OCM will also discuss the issue of suitable hosts for the 2027 SEA Games with the Youth and Sports Ministry.
“We also need to make plans for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand,” he added.
On Oct 21, 2023, Sarawak’s Premier, Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, said it was time for the state to host the biennial Games that will see Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Vietnam athletes compete to be the best in Southeast Asia.
Sarawak will host this year’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) from Aug 17-24 in nine divisions – Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Serian, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, and Miri. Sukma is seen as a testing ground for Sarawak’s capabilities to host the much larger SEA Games.
Malaysia last hosted the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, when 844 athletes competed in 38 sports. The host emerged champion with 145 gold medals – its best-ever outing.
However, off the sporting field, the Games had numerous problems, including late or inaccurate results, and the constant crashing of the Games’ official mobile application that forced television broadcasters to send a memo to the organising committee, demanding an answer.
The problem, however, persisted until the end of the Games.
Other issues saw the squash finals being moved to a different court, as the centrepiece arena was not ready, 16 Malaysian athletes suffering food poisoning at one of the official hotels, winners receiving their medals without a casing to house the medals, and most damaging of all, printing the Indonesian flag upside down in the souvenir book.
Seven years later, the Youth and Sports Ministry has yet to reveal the KL SEA Games accounts.
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