KUCHING: The Borneo Games 2025 is scheduled to take place from 24 to 28 September at the Petra Jaya Sports Complex, Kuching, involving the participation of six contingents, namely Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan, Brunei Darussalam, West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan.

Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED), Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that a total of eight sporting events will be contested, namely five core sports, two traditional sports and one special VIP sport, which is golf.

"The sports that will be competed in this year's Borneo Games are badminton, field bowling, archery, athletics and swimming.

"Two traditional sports that will also be competed are blowpipe and tug-of-war, while one event, VIP golf, does not involve any medals," he said.

He said this in a press conference after chairing the sports coordination meeting at the Baitulmakmur 2 Building, here, on Friday.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim also announced athlete registration for all participating contingents will open starting July 14 and close on August 29, 2025, giving more than a month for each country, region and province to coordinate their respective participation.

In a related development, he shared that a special space for entrepreneurs from the countries and regions involved to market their respective domestic products throughout the tournament was planned.

"At least there will be space for entrepreneurs from the countries, states and provinces involved to come.

“We are opening a place for them to sell as much of their products as possible. In that way, I believe it will be able to further strengthen friendships and relationships between entrepreneurs other than those involved in sports,” he explained.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim said that this organisation of the Borneo Games 2025 marks the first time of the sports event being organised again after it was last held in 2013 in the Federal Territory of Labuan.

He said that it is not just a tournament, but a platform to strengthen cross-regional cooperation, preserve traditional sports heritage and build a network of regional friendships.

Also present were MYSED Deputy Minister, Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu and MYSED Permanent Secretary, Morshidi Fredrick. -UKASnews