4TH MALAYSIAN GAMES 2007/2008 IN PARIS

The 4th annual Malaysian Games held in Paris last weekend from 22 to 24 April was indeed an occasion keenly anticipated by Malaysians living in France. The Malaysian Games 2007/2008 hosted by the Malaysian Embassy and the Malaysian Association in France (MAF), with the support of PERWAKILAN Paris had a turn-out of about 100 Malaysians comprising of not only Malaysians and students living in and around Paris but also the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officers and families who came all the way from Cherbourg and Brest, about 400 km away from Paris.

The first Malaysian Games was organised by the Malaysian Embassy in 2004 and the Malaysian Association in France (MAF) hosted the second Malaysian Games in 2005.  Both of the events were held in Paris and then became popular among Malaysians residing in France. In 2006, the Malaysian Games were hosted by the RMN team (MINDEF) in Cherbourg, the base of the RMN Submarine Force Project.  However, due to time constraints and other activities in 2007, the 4th Malaysian Games were postponed to this year.

The Malaysian Games 2007/2008, graced by H.E. Dato’ S. Thanarajasingam,  Ambassador of Malaysia  to France, was also attended by H.E. Mr. Kenneth Luis, Permanent Delegate of Malaysia to UNESCO; Admiral Mohammad Rosland Omar RMN, Head of the RMN Submarine Force  Team; Mr. Tye Soon Kwai, President of the Malaysian Association in France (MAF) and Capt. Khairuddin Mohd. Arif, Defence Attaché of the Malaysian Embassy and the  coordinator of this year’s Malaysian Games. 

The participating teams comprised of the Embassy Team (staff of the Malaysian Embassy and other Malaysian government agencies in Paris), the MINDEF Team and the MAF Team including students living in France. The three-day event which was held at the Embassy in Paris and the Moulin Sports Centre in Gif-sur-Yvette in the suburb of Paris was well attended not only by supporters and family members of the three teams but also the Deputy Mayor of Gif-sur-Yvette, Mr. Dimitri Tchorloff.

The games were a huge success gathering together Malaysians and friends of Malaysia. Several sports were played including badminton, bowling, table tennis, sepak takraw and board games such as darts, scrabble and carom.

On Monday, H.E. Dato’ S. Thanarajasingam and wife Datin Dr. Saradha Iyer  hosted a lunch and a prize giving ceremony at  Rumah Malaysia.  In his speech, His Excellency stated that the Malaysian Games is not all about competition but also about team spirit, friendship, solidarity and camaraderie. He advised Malaysians to keep themselves fit and healthy by exercising regularly.

His Excellency also thanked all sponsors to the Malaysian Games notably PERWAKILAN Paris who had contributed the prizes and the preparation of meals for the participants.  (The text of His Excellency’s speech is as attached).  

His Excellency gave away the challenge trophy Piala Tunku Nazihah to the Embassy team which emerged as the overall winner of the Malaysian Games 2007/2008. The runner-up went to the MINDEF team while the MAF team came in third.

The Malaysian Games 2007/2008 in Paris was not just a tournament but also a platform for Malaysians in France to display their sporting abilities and promote healthy competition. The sports meet was another festive affair of fun, laughter, competitiveness, fellowship and a spirit of goodwill amongst the large ‘Malaysian family’ in France.

Embassy of Malaysia
Paris