KUALA LUMPUR: The National Stadium in Bukit Jalil and two other sports facilities will be available for schools to host their sports day events for free beginning October.
Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced the initiative during the Kuala Lumpur Sports City's (KLSC) 25th anniversary celebration in Bukit Jalil tonight.
The two other venues are the Jalan Duta Sports Complex as well as the Bukit Kiara Sports Complex.
"This (school use for free) was approved during the Malaysia Stadium Corporation (MSC) members meeting on July 17, it will be done for a period of two years. We are doing this in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of KLSC," said Yeoh.
"This will begin once the works at the stadium have completed in October.
"Schools can book these venues for their sports days on dates which the stadium is not being utilised for other events.
"It is possible that we can split a day into two sessions, so one school can hold their sports day in the morning and another can do it in the afternoon.
"We want the children to experience what it feels like to run on the track at the stadium. We hope it will inspire them to become athletes."
Yeoh is hoping to attract nutritious food and beverage brands to advertise at the stadium during these school sports day events to offset the costs involved.
The National Stadium is currently being replanted with zeon zoysia type grass. The project is expected to be completed by the end of September.
KLSC, formerly known as the National Sports Complex, has hosted numerous international multi-sport events such as the 1998 Commonwealth Games as well as the 2001 and 2017 Sea Games.