By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has hosted the country's first International Stand-up Paddle (SUP) marathon off Tunku Abdul Rahman Park here.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the event could serve as a platform to promote Sabah to international tourists.
"This morning, I had the opportunity to officiate the flag-off of the Borneo International SUP Marathon, which is held in Sabah for the very first time.
"There are participants from eight countries, including professional paddlers from overseas," he told the media after flagging off participants from a resort here.
A total of 70 participants, including world champion Daniel Hasulyo, took part in the two-day race event that began yesterday. Participants competed in relay, solo 21km and 42km categories, including paddlers as young as 13.
Jafry said that for the longest distance category, participants passed Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Sulug and Pulau Mamutik before returning to the starting point.
"We hope that next year we will be able to organise this programme on a larger scale in conjunction with Visit Sabah Year 2027.
"The ministry fully supports this initiative as we continue to promote Sabah as one of the key tourism destinations in our country."
Present at the event were the ministry's permanent secretary Datuk Josie Lai, Sabah Parks director Datuk Maklarin Lakim, Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jimit, Kota Kinabalu City Hall deputy director-general (operations) Robert Lipon, as well as event director Benjamin Golimbi.
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