Paralympis Gaining Popularity In Malaysia, Indonesia

From Ahmad Muliady Abdul Majid SOLO (Indonesia), Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Paralympic sports are fast gaining popularity in the region, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia, thanks to the efforts of the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) and its affiliate bodies, APC president Zainal Abu Zarin said. "We are seeing this happening Malaysia and Indonesia and we can see that both governments are committed in drawing up development programmes for paralympic athletes, either for the long-term or short-term," he told Bernama, here. Zainal, who is also Paralympic Council of Malaysia president, said in Malaysia, the government was actively promoting the sports in collaboration with sport associations and the society under a specific programme called the 2020 National Paralympic Movement. "Malaysia is also ahead of other countries in Asean in the provision of paralympic facilities with the completion of the National Paralympic Development Centre in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur," he said. The centre, he added, would be a catalyst for a greater development of the sports in the country. Zainal said the centre would play a major role in producing new paralympic talents to represent the country. He said Indonesia was also actively promoting paralympic sports and had shown good organisation of the Asean Para Games here despite hosting it for the first time. "I have all praise for the commitment shown by the organiser in upgrading the facilities for the differently-abled people at the venues which provide comfort to the paralympians," he said. He added that the response of the community in Solo, who thronged the venues in large number, was a sign that they supported paralympic sports. -- BERNAMA