BERBAKI 60 hari sebelum bermulanya temasya Sukan SEA Kuala Lumpur 2017, venue bagi sukan luncur ais yang tampil buat pertama kali pada Sukan SEA, sudah hampir siap sepenuhnya dan sedia untuk diuji.
Pembinaan permukaan ais di Empire City Mall bernilai RM30 juta oleh Mammoth Empire Holdings Sdn Bhd (MEH) itu kini di peringkat akhir dan atlet dijangka berpeluang menguji venue itu mulai bulan depan (Julai).
Acara sukan ais di venue itu akan berlansung dari 20 hingga 30 Ogos dan mampu memuatkan hingga 500 penonton.
Menteri Belia dan Sukan YB Brig Jen Khairy Jamaluddin pada Isnin (19 Jun) meluangkan masa melawat venue berkenaan dan meninjau persiapan atlet luncur ais dan hoki ais yang akan membawa cabaran negara ke temasya nanti.
YB Brig Jen Khairy, yang juga pengerusi Jawatankuasa Penganjur Malaysia (MASOC) KL2017, nyata berpuashati dengan tahap persiapan permukaan ais dan kemudahan lain di venue berkenaan.
“Dengan hanya 60 hari sebelum bermulanya Sukan SEA 2017, venue ini sudah bersedia… kerja-kerja memastikan permukaan ais berada pada tahap terbaik sedang dilakukan.
“Mengenai kemudahan lain di venue ini, semuanya berjalan lancar. Pihak Empire memaklumkan bahawa venue akan diperkemaskan dengan pebagai kemudahan lain.
Atlet juga berpuashati dengan kemudahan di sini. Kerja-kerja melicinkan lagi permukaan ais masih berlangsung dan dijangka siap sepenuhnya hujung bulan ini (Jun)…atlet boleh mula berlatih di sini bulan depan (Julai), iaitu tempoh lebih sebulan bagi atlet untuk berlatih di venue ini,” kata YB Brig Jen Khairy, sambil mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan MEH, Datuk Sean Ng Yee Teck atas usaha menyiapkan venue itu mengikut jadual.
Sembilan pingat emas akan dipertandingkan dalam luncur ais short track speed skating, dua emas dalamfigure skating dan satu emas dalam hoki ais.
EMPIRE ICE SKATING RINK READY FOR ATHLETES NEXT MONTH
WITH 60 days to go, it’s all looking good for KL2017 Games as Mammoth Empire Holdings Sdn Bhd (MEH) is close to completing the ice skating rink at the Empire City Mall.
The RM30 million Olympic-size ice skating rink is expected to be fully operational next month, all set to host SEA Games’ first winter events to be held from 20-30 Aug. The venue is able to accomodate up to 500 spectators.
This will be the first time winter events – figure skating, short track speed skating, ice hockey – are introduced in the KL2017 Games.
Minister of Youth and Sports YB Brig Gen Khairy Jamaluddin on Monday (19 June) visited the venue to inspect the level of preparation of the rink as well athletes who will be involved in all three events of the sports.
YB Brig Gen Khairy, who is also the chairman of the Malaysia Organising Committee (MASOC) KL2017, expressed satisfaction over the progress of the world class rink after given a tour around the venue, the ice skating rink and facilities by MEH.
“With 60 days remaining, we are ready to go. They are going to lay the ice surface a couple more times to make sure we get the best and smoothest surface to ensure the best competition.
“As far as the infrastructure is concerned, everything is well on track. Empire has told me that they are going to include some outlets and to enhance the environment and the ambiance of the facility.
“The athletes are very happy with the facility. The surface will be redone by the end of the month and we can start training on the surface in July…that’s more than a month to train and get used to this facility. I’m quite happy,” said YB Brig Gen Khairy, who also thanked MEH Group Managing Director, Datuk Sean Ng Yee Teck, for meeting the demands of a world class venue within the specified time.
A total of nine gold medals will be up for grabs in all three events –ice skating short track speed skating (6 gold), figure skating (2) and one gold in ice hockey.
