The Sukma Games is a biennial national multi-sport event involving young athletes from Malaysian 13 member states and the Federal territory. The games is regulated by the National Sports Council of Malaysia, the state sports council of the respective member states, the Olympic Council of Malaysia and the National Sports association of the games respective sporting event.
History
The Sukma Games was conceptualised by the then Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Anwar Ibrahim in 1983. The proposed rationale was that a national games will help improve the sports quality, produces and encourages athletes to participate in sports at state level, improve officials performance, encourages the building of new venues and upgrading of existing sport venues at state level and cultivate national integration spirit among Malaysian community. At first, the inaugural games was proposed to be held from 15 August to 2 September 1985 and consist of 6 sports such as tennis, table tennis, cycling, athletics, sepak takraw and volleyball. However, a new proposal to involve more sport was submitted by the public to the National Sports Council of Malaysia, which accept the proposal and made the decision to be held the games every two years begins 1986 onwards and alternate with the Southeast Asian Games. The first Sukma Games were held in Kuala Lumpur from 19–26 April 1986 participated by more than 3849 athletes from 13 States of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, The Malaysian Universities Sports Council, Royal Malaysian Police and the Malaysian Armed Forces. The third edition was held in Sarawak in 1990, making it the first time the Sukma Games was held in the state and also the first time in East Malaysia. At the 6th Sukma Games in Pahang in 1996, Brunei, Labuan and the Malaysian Schools Sports Council made their debut, while the Malaysian Armed Forces ceased to participate and the Northern Territory of Australia only participates at the 9th Sukma Games in Sabah in 2002. At the 10th Sukma Games in 2004 in Negeri Sembilan, both the Schools Sports Council and Universities Sports Council ceased to participate while at the 11th edition in Kedah in 2006, both Kuala Lumpur and Labuan team merged to form the Federal Territory team following the administration merger of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and the Putrajaya while the Police participates at the games for the last time. A decision was made by the National Sports Council on 27 May 2010 to hold the games annually from 2011 onwards in an effort to develop and democratise all sports including optional sports in the country. The odd year games was held in Kuala Lumpur by the National Sports Council and involve only optional sports, while the even year games was held in member states of the country and involve only core sports. The odd year games was however abolished by the council in 2015, citing fully packed state sports agenda and high cost for state sport councils to fund a Sukma Games contingent every year.
Participating teams
Armed Forces
Universities
Schools
Police
Notes:
Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya participated as a combined Federal Territory contingent since 2006. Given Putrajaya's small area and population, the Putrajaya contingent was never formed throughout Sukma Games history.
No longer participated in the games
Not from within Malaysia.
Malaysian Universities Sports Council
Malaysian Schools Sports Council
Royal Malaysian Police
Malaysian Armed Forces
Sports
The list below shows the sports that are played at all the Sukma Games since 1986.
All states of Malaysia have held their respective Sukma Games, except Kelantan.
List of the Sukma Games' Sportsman and Sportswoman
Para Sukma Games
Para Sukma Games, is a Malaysian biannual national multi-sport event held after every Sukma Games involving disabled athletes from Malaysian 13 member states and federal territory. Participants have a variety of disabilities, ranging from spastic, cerebral palsy, mobility disabilities, visual disabilities, amputated to intellectual disabilities. The Para Sukma Games is regulated by the Malaysia Paralympic Council, State Sports council of respective member states, Ministry of Youth and Sports, national sports association of the sports competed at the games and National Sports Council of Malaysia and is traditionally hosted by the state where the Sukma Games took place. The games' previously known as Malaysian Paralympiad and National Games of Malaysia For the Disabled and was established in 1982.
