Sports stadium for Sabah
Published on: Saturday, June 01, 1968
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To this end, it is carefully studying the possibility of having a first class Sports Stadium somewhere around Kota Kinabalu.
This was announced by the Acting Chief Minister, Dato Khoo Siak Chiew, when he declared open the first Sabah Inter-Residency Schools Athletic Championships, on behalf of the Chief Minister, Tun Datu Haji Mustapha bin Datu Harun, at the Turf Club today.
The following is his full text of the speech by the Chief Minister, Tun Datu Haji Mustapha delivered at the opening ceremony by the Acting Chief Minister, Dato Khoo Siak Chiew:-
“First of all, I should like to take this opportunity to extend heartiest greetings, very best wishes and grateful thanks to our Honourable Chief Minister who has been invited to declare this Athletic Championship open. Owing to unforsen circumstances, the Honourable Chief Minister is unable to do so.
However, his dedication, spirit and encouragement towards the fostering of healthy growth of sporting activities is ever apparent and is definitely with us here today.
It is therefore my great pleasure and a privilege local message of the Honourable Chief Minister on this festive occasion.
It is with pride and pleasure that I wish our Athletes a pleasure on the occasion of the Sabah Inter-Residency Schools Athletic Championship.
Sports has always been imbued with human activities ever since the Greeks started the Olympiad. Sports are extremely important in schools because they help students to develop mentally, physically and socially and thus be sound in body and mind.
In a society a developing State in Sabah it is important that the future citizens should be tought in mind and spirit in order to make their maximum contribution towards economic and social development as envisaged in the State Developments, “A good athlete is a worthy citizen.”
The holding of Inter-Residency Sports at Residency level had already shown extremely encouraging results in the matter of keen competition and improvement of standards of athletics.
The organisation at Inter-District and Inter-Residency level has been greatly simplified by the revised set up of the Sabah Schools Sports Council and credit is due therefore to all sports lovers in Sabah who have rendered up every assistance and encouragement in this field.
I am extremely proud to know that our students had already made a name for themselves and for Sabah at two earlier Malaysian students Game in which they have competed and I am sure that with system the build-ups of the Sabah Team for 1968 games at Alor Setar, our boys and girls should put even more creditable performances this year.
It is interesting to hear that these championships are stepping stone to not only Malaysian Game but also to the International Schools Sports in which Singapore Schools at least are expected to compete.
The Sabah State Government is of course very interested in encouraging every form of sporting activities in the State of Sabah.
To this end, the State Government is carefully studying the possibility of having a first class sports stadium somewhere around Kota Kinabalu.
At the moment, the State Government is examining various possible sites for a new sports stadium complex which can be utilized as multi purpose social, sporting and cultural activities.
With the establishment of this sports Stadium complex, sportmen all over Sabah will have the opportunity of utilizing one of the most modern and up-to-date sporting facilities available in this part of the world.
The important thing in athletic is not winning but trying hard.
In your endeavour to attain new heights in field, track and jumping events, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all this participants good competition, and the supporters and organisers all the best.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Sabah Schools Sports Council for having invited me to declare open the 1st Sabah Students Athletic Championships.
I have now great pleasure in declaring this meet open and I wish you all the best of luck and success and a pleasant time during the meet.”
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