Challenges Online posted on July 28, 2009 10:19
Malaysian Paralympic Council launched the first ever ‘Paralympic Park’ in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur, July 29. The Malaysian Paralympic Council launched the first ever ‘Paralympic Park’ in Malaysia to mark its legacy and write another chapter in the National Paralympic Movement.
Tun Jeanne Abdullah, the patron of the Malaysian Paralympic Council, commemorated the event by planting the first tree at the the 4.8ha park in Bukit Jalil
The Paralympic Park will mark the movements’ contribution to not only the disabled members of the community but to the environment as well.
The park will be regarded as an outdoor gallery for the Paralympic. Its purpose, to generate awareness and educate the public on the activities of the OKU (Orang Kurang Upaya), both Paralympic and non-Paralympic, will draw a new and positive perception towards Paralympic athletes, governing bodies and the disabled in general.
It also represents a legacy for the upcoming 5th Asean Para Games hosted and organized by the Malaysian Paralympic Council. The park will also serve the purpose as a place of rendezvous for Paralympic athletes to relax and recreate with their families.
"This is a special gift for the paralympic athletes competing in the KL'09 Games," said the wife of former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to reporters after the launching.
Jeanne, who is also chairman of the Malaysian Landscape Advisory Panel, said the 2,000 trees to be planted at the park represented the medal winners in the Games which would be held from this Aug 15-19. This endeavour is made possible with the cooperation of DBKL, Landscape Malaysia, Jabatan Landskap Negara and the Institute of Landscape Architects of Malaysia.
She said they would be invited to the Paralympic Park on a date to be announced later for each to place on a selected tree, their name tag which would also note their win in their event.
"This tree planting activity will reflect the commitment of paralympic athletes and the disabled to maintaining cleanliness and beauty of the natural environment," she said.
According to Malaysian Paralympic Council president Datuk Zainal Abu Zarin, the park launched in conjunction with the 5th Asean Paralympic Games in Kuala Lumpur (KL'09) next month, will be planted with various species of forest trees.
KL'09 will involve 11 events, namely athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, powerlifting, chess, bowling, sailing, and tennis, basketball and volleyball on wheelchairs.
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