1Federal Territories Day joy for everyone

KUALA LUMPUR: The elderly and the disabled were not left out of the Federal Territories Day joy at Dataran Merdeka here this morning to embody this year's theme, '1 Wilayah Perseketuan, Maju dan Sejahtera' (1Federal Territory , Progress and Prosperity).


Veteran participant Atan Bakar, 84, caught the crowd's attention with his fifth appearance in the cycling event.
"God bless, I am still able to cycle till today and I will continue doing so for as long as my health permits," said the retiree who has been involved in the sport for the past 62 years.
The cycling event was flagged off by Youth and Sports Ministry's deputy chief secretary (operations), Datuk Mohid Mohamed. Another eye-catching activity was the Sports for OKU (the disabled).
National wheelchair basketball athlete Fazlan Ismail, 30, said he is happy that his team is given the chance to showcase their talent in the three-on-three wheelchair basketball match today. Fazlan has been playing the sport since 2002.
"I am grateful that the disabled are given an avenue to prove themselves through sports."
The disabled also participated in goal ball, boccia (lawn bowling), soft tennis and wheelchair racing.
The FT Day celebration kicked off last night with the Ambang 1Wilayah Persekutuan concert.
There will be some 40 events to mark the occasion until Feb 21. Organising committee member Hendra Haizad Abd Hamid said this morning event involved more than 2,000 participants.
Among the activities lined up from 8am today were marching, explorace, telematch, cycling and paintball.

Malay Mail