Amidst the activities lined up and fanfare in conjunction with the upcoming National Sports Day in Malaysia, one initiative hopes to create a lasting impression.
The Kuala Lumpur Sports Industry Expo, scheduled from Oct 7-9 at the Kuala Lumpur Sports City in Bukit Jalil, aims to open the eyes and minds of many, especially those within the Finance Ministry, to the importance of sports, and how it can contribute to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).
It, however, suffered a hiccup after the tabling of Budget 2023 was pushed forward to Oct 7, from the initial date of Oct 23.
“Admittedly, that was the plan, to showcase the true value of sports before the tabling of Budget 2023. But it’s not the end of the world,” said an official who is heavily involved in the Youth and Sports Ministry’s Sports Industry Secretariat.
“The plan is to ensure continuity in such an expo and to attract the big players, similar to the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), and the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism (MAHA) show.”
The biennial LIMA has been held since 1991. The last exhibition, in 2019, saw the participation of over 40,000 trade visitors and 240,000 public visitors. More than RM4 billion in contracts were inked at the event.
This year’s MAHA, held last month, saw some 1.4 million visitors and registered sales of more than RM260 million.
“Our upcoming expo is important as it will be used to test the market, to gauge the interest based on the number of visitors and industry players. It’s not just a place that sells jerseys or shoes but it’s all about the sporting ecosystem, the products, services, and everything else related to sports,” the official added.
In 2017, the Malaysian sports industry generated RM18.8 billion.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the same year saw 36,511 people employed in the industry, with wages amounting to RM876 million. That figure is just the tip of the iceberg.
However, conversations about the sports industry are not new.
In 2009, then Youth and Sports minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek saw the potential of the sports industry and initiated the convention.
Representatives from the Youth and Sports Ministry and DOSM met on Aug 2 to see how they can use data to help promote the sports industry.
The upcoming expo will be the Youth and Sports Ministry’s main platform to unveil the impact and contributions of the sports industry towards Malaysia’s economic, as well as its socio-economic development.
According to the organiser, close to 100,000 people are expected to attend the expo. A host of sporting activities, from futsal, cycling, to aerobics, will be held during the exposition. An eSports carnival and a mini-concert featuring local acts will also be held.
The event will be segmentised based on a sports industry exhibition, offering the latest technology in the world of sports, a sales carnival, and job opportunities in the sporting ecosystem.
The total sum that will be spent on the expo remains unclear.
More importantly, there should be a follow-through, to ensure those who helm Menara KBS after the upcoming general election will continue the sports industry ‘fight’.
Otherwise, the expo and other related initiatives, including the Sports Satellite Account, will be nothing but a waste of public funds, and time.
