SANDAKAN: The Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) will host the 14th Sabah Local Government Games (SKTS 14), which will be held across Sandakan from Nov 7 to 13.
MPS president Datuk Walter Kenson said the tournament would bring together 2,368 athletes and officials representing 25 local authorities and four government agencies from eight competing zones.
“The games will feature 19 sports, with competitions taking place at 14 venues across the district.
“The sports include football, badminton, athletics, netball, sepak takraw, futsal, volleyball, lawn bowls, pickleball, e-sports, darts, carrom, snooker, tug-of-war, ten-pin bowling, table tennis, golf and arm wrestling,” he said here on Tuesday.
Walter said the opening ceremony will be held at 7pm on Nov 7 at the Sandakan Sports Complex Stadium, while the closing ceremony is scheduled for 7pm on Nov 13 at the Batu 5 hall, here.
“Both ceremonies are expected to be officiated by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif,” he said.
Meanwhile, Walter said one of the key objectives of hosting SKTS 14 was to stimulate Sandakan’s local economy.
He said the arrival of 2,368 athletes and officials was expected to boost demand for hotels and accommodation.
“The event would also create income opportunities for restaurant operators, food outlets, small traders and local transport providers.
“A total of 50 hotels and accommodation premises have been identified in connection with the event. The tournament is also expected to generate an estimated gross economic expenditure of up to RM3 million throughout its duration,” he said.
Walter also called on Sandakan residents to support the tournament by turning up at the venues to cheer on the competing athletes.
“Let us come together to support the athletes while showcasing the hospitality of the people of Sandakan as hosts,” he said.
Admission for the public is free, subject to venue capacity and security instructions.
He hoped that SKTS 14 would not only be a sporting success but also generate a positive impact on the local economy and promote Sandakan as a visitor-friendly city.
The detailed competition schedule, list of venues and tournament updates are available on the official SKTS 14 portal at https://mps-apps.my/skts14/.
