KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — The move to gazette 103 types of sports under the Sports Development Act 1997 last year has indirectly helped promote less-known or less-popular sports.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said once sports are gazetted under the act, stakeholders can seek funds from the ministry to organise events.
Hannah said those involved can apply for sports development, community sports funds and tax exemption for training, to the tune of RM1,000.
“In the past, stakeholders could only view such initiatives from the outside when sports they were involved in were not gazetted, and would not have access to funds allocated by the ministry. Now, they can apply for funds or matching grants, community sports funding and tax exemption of RM1,000.
“The ministry is not all about winning medals, but also to inculcate a sports culture, and more and more sports are being adopted by the people, no matter what type. When the people are involved in sports and they workout and are healthy, medical costs will be reduced,” she said.
Yeoh was speaking to the media after watching the Kuala Lumpur International Pickleball Tournament final at the Tun Razak National Tennis Centre here today.
She said pickleball was among the new types of sports gaining popularity.
— Bernama
