AS the final curtain fell on the Olympic Carnival in Penang today after a 12-day of sports and events, the closing ceremony was held in a spectacular manner with former retired national badminton icon Datuk Lee Chong Wei taking part in the Torch Run.
This significant event also saw 2018 Youth Olympic Games badminton champion Goh Jin Wei and some former Penang Olympians took part as torchbearers.
Among them were Datuk T. Krishnan, Keevan Raj, Takbir Ahmad Nazir, Cheng Chu Sian and Jiwa Mohan.
When Lee received the torch from 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Chan Peng Soon, the badminton legend who was the final torchbearer walked around the Esplanade field before stepping onto the stage.
The flame was then extinguished, marking the end of the Penang Olympic Carnival which started from June 12 to 23. The carnival was a celebration held in conjunction with the Tokyo Olympics next year.
Four sports, namely badminton, sepak takraw, tenpin bowling and volleyball were held during the carnival.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, in his speech, said the success of this celebration would become a stepping stone for the state government to organise other sport events in the future.
He said this event also became a platform for Penangites to be part of this ‘Olympic Movement’ to nurture younger generation to take up sports.
Chow also urged the people to support the Malaysian contingent at the Tokyo Olympics.
“Our Malaysian contingent’s chef de mission (CDM) for the Games next year is none other than Datuk Lee Chong Wei,” he said, receiving cheers from the crowd at the Esplanade.
Chow also expressed his gratitude to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) for choosing Penang as the host for this carnival.
State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee also gave the thumbs up.
He said the carnival had received an overwhelming response from all walks of life.
“We are proud of this feat,” Soon added.
A series of programmes for the public was also held at the end of the event.
The programmes include table tennis, skateboard and mini Olympic sports.
There were also stage shows and lucky draws session.
Earlier, Chow and his wife Tan Lean Kee joined the 5km Family Fun Walk with more than 10,000 participants.
The family fun walk passed through Light Street, Leith Street, Penang Road, Campbell Street, Buckingham Street, Acheen Street and Beach Street, before heading back to Light Street.
Also present were OCM deputy president Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi and OCM secretary-general Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi