PULAU Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee Chun Kit expressed his hopes that the Asia Pacific Masters Games (APMG 2018), which is being hosted by Penang from Sept 7 to 15, will continue to grow in the coming years.
He said this in his speech after receiving the APMG 2018 torch from Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong and his team at the Gurney Paragon Mall along Gurney Drive this morning. Also present was Hunza Properties executive director Khor Tze Ming, whose company owns the shopping mall.
“This is the first ever Asia Pacific Masters Games and Penang is honoured to be the host.
“I hope that the Games will continue to grow in the coming years because at the end of the day, we want to ensure that sports is something that people of all ages can participate.
“It cannot be based on just the superiority of the younger people but we must ensure that sports must be enjoyed by people of all ages. And that is the whole reason of the Asia Pacific Masters Games,” Lee said.
Pulau Tikus is sending a football team and a lion dance team, which is led by a member of Chris’ service team, to the Games.
“Pulau Tikus is proud to be the final torch bearer before the final lap towards the stadium tonight. So, thank you all for coming.
“The most important thing is the spirit of the Games, the theme this year is “Beyond the Games” because the Games is just one component of this whole sporting meet.
“The key component of this sporting meet is fellowship across the nations. Because at the end of the day, sports unite the world. Personal conflict, misunderstandings between nations are normal. But when it comes to sports, everybody can come together in peace. We play fairly and we want to make our country proud. And tonight, at this Games, Penang will make Malaysia proud.”
Zumba kicked off some of the activities organised at the Festive Square in Gurney Paragon to celebrate the handover of the torch.
The other activities included a Malay traditional dance by SMK Convent Pulau Tikus students, lion dance by Yi Loong Association, Thai percussion performance, Baba Nyonya dance, a Eurasian singing performance by Carols Castillo Duo, Thai modern dance, Chinese dance by SMJK (C) Perempuan Cina pupils, Indian dance by Temple of Fine Arts and flash mob.
After the activities, the APMG 2018 torch was scheduled to be brought by a convoy of vintage cars to the Esplanade where Lee would hand it over to the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang. From there, at 6pm, it was scheduled to be brought to the City Stadium by thousands of runners for tonight’s opening ceremony beginning from 7pm.
Story & pix by K.H. Ong