8 February 2024
Paralympic Council Malaysia (PCM) in collaboration with the French Embassy in Malaysia and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management & Technology (TAR UMT) conducted a program called – “Allez Les Champions! (Let's Go, Champions!) on 8 February 2024 at Paralympic Sports Centre of Excellence Kampung Pandan Kuala Lumpur.
The primary objective of this program was to raise awareness of the major sporting event in Paris this year – Olympic & Paralympic Games 2024. PCM will be participating in the Paralympic Games and this event was a golden opportunity to share with young students information about Para Sports and let them experience the feel of some sports played by persons with disabilities.
About 90 students of ages 12 to 16 from Klang Valley – SMKA Kuala Lumpur, SMK Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, SMK Convent Kajang, SMK Bandar Rinching and SMAP Kajang attended the day-long event. These students are currently pursuing French Language lessons in their respective schools and this event is designed to help them understand better about the Games that are going to take place in Paris later this year.
The event included activities like talks about Para Sports by coaches and athletes, demonstration of para sports, involvement by students in the sports and general information quizzes about Paralympic movement. A total of 6 sports were prepared for demonstration and participation – Para Athletics, Para Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, Goalball, Sitting Volleyball and Blind Football. Q&A Sessions between students and the athletes, coaches and PCM Officials were also held. All these gave the students a valuable outdoor experience about Paralympic Games and an opportunity to meet personnel involved in sports for the disabled community.
PCM Secretary-General First Admiral Dato’ Subramaniam Raman Nair (R) officiated the opening ceremony. He was joined by Ms Emmanuelle Marchand the Cultural Counsellor and Ms Anaïs Deschamps both from the French Embassy together with Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, President TAR UMT. In his opening speech, Dato Subra stressed the point for young students to be exposed and understand the challenges faced by persons with disabilities and to be advocates for an inclusive society.
