FACILITIES at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil – venue for the 9th ASEAN Para Games athletics competition, have been upgraded to ensure smooth movement for athletes and spectators.
With the opening ceremony of the Games scheduled in the evening on Sunday (17 Sept), venue manager Datuk S. Vegiyathuman and his technical team are working round-the–clock in preparation for the event’s Day 1 programme on Monday (18 Sept).
“As far as athletics in concerned, we’re ready to host the Games at the stadium. Immediately after the opening ceremony on Sunday, we will have the technical team move in to get the final touches done,” said Vegiyathuman.
“Other than that, there are no disturbances as everything is going accordingly to the schedule. Basically the system applied in the Southeast Asian Games will be carried into the Para Games.
“We will have one final test after the opening ceremony to ensure that everything is in order. The technical team will work throughout the night to prepare the field.
“It is tough with the limited time but I believe we will get the venue ready. In terms of accessibility, we have built ramps to ease the movements of wheelchair athletes. The facilities such as changing rooms and toilets have been refurbished,” added Vegiyathuman.
There will be 133 gold medals on offer with participation of 317 athletes from 11 Southeast Asian nations.
In the 2015 Singapore Para Games, Malaysian athletes won 27 gold, 18 silvers and eight bronze medals.
