All Asean Para Games venues, accommodation, transport OKU friendly

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia SEA Games Organising Committee (Masoc) has upgraded all competition venues and accommodation for the 9th Asean Para Games from Sept 17-23 to ensure they are disabled friendly (OKU friendly).
Masoc chairman Khairy Jamaluddin said through an inclusive initiative adopted in the organising of the Binennial games, the focus during preparations was also on facilities for athletes with special needs as well as members of the public with special needs to travel to the competition venues.
"In short, we want people with special needs and athletes with special needs, to share the same pleasant experience like normal athletes and people. About 4,000 volunteers will assist athletes with special needs," said Khairy who is also the Youth and Sports Minister after meeting the Malaysian Para athletes contingent, here tonight.
He said the facilities like cafeteria, accommodation, toilets, bathroom and other facilities have been upgraded to accommodate the needs of athletes with special needs while access to these places are also wheelchair-friendly.
Among additional facilities provided are 150 special OKU car parking lots at the B entrance of the Kuala Lumpur Sports City, Buggy services, OKU friendly buses with wheelchair access and 1,300 seating places for wheelchair-bound fans at competition venues.
Khairy said Masoc had also held discussions with six hotels when athletes would be staying, namely Hotel Seri Pacific, Hotel Sunway Putra, Hotel Renaissance, Hotel Berjaya Times Square, Hotel Nilai Springs Resort and Hotel Sunway Clio.
All six main competition venues; Kuala Lumpur Sports City (KLSC), Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec), National Velodrome in Nilai, National Tennis Centre in Jalan Duta, Sunway Mega Lanes and Putrajaya, have also been upgraded, he said.
"We are committed to ensure there will be no repeat of the transport problems during the SEA Games. For that we have asked the contingents to not change their schedule at the last minute," he said.
Khairy said Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) would broadcast the opening and closing ceremonies and through official YouTube sites of the organiser.
"Access to all competition venues including the opening and closing ceremonies is free. For the opening ceremony however, everyone must obtain a pass. The pass is to ensure crowd control and security. Entry to venues is on a first come first served basis," he said. — Bernama