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Sports
Tourism in
Malaysia |
Malaysia attracts a wide range
of sports
enthusiasts from around the world. It has world-class climbing crags and
turquoise waters, and the sports scene includes both leisurely activities like
snorkeling and golf plus extreme sports like BASE jumping. The country also
hosts several international competitions, which bring with them other festivals
and a party-like atmosphere.
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Mountain Running
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Malaysia is the host of the
annual Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon, where mountain
runners race to the top of Mount Kinabalu and back down again,
running a total distance of 21 kilometers. The climbathon has
been held every year since its inauguration in 1987, when its
participation was restricted to Malaysians. Starting the
following year, the climbathon became open to international
participants as well.
Motorcycle Racing
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Since 1991, Malaysia has been
host to the Malaysian MotoGP, one of the world's largest
motorcycle races, which attracts teams from many of the top
manufacturers in the motorcycle industry. Motorcycle enthusiasts
flock to this event each year to watch the races and attend the
various side festivities such as Sepang Bike Week, an event
thick with the scent of good home-cooking rising from multiple
barbecue camps.
Windsurfing
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Malaysia's beautiful waters
invite all sorts of water sports. One of the top water-based
activities in the country is windsurfing. In 2007, the
International Monsoon Madness drew 60 participants from 13
countries to compete in a variety of windsurfing competitions
and events. Langkawi, an archipelago off the northwestern coast
draws a lot of windsurfers, as does Balok Beach near the city of
Kuantan, where the competition was held.
Scuba Diving
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From Sipadan Island to
Lankayan, the Malaysian coastline supports dozens of
scuba-diving operations and even more excellent dive sites. A
2006 article in U.K. newspaper The Guardian named Sipadan Island
one of the Top 10 Dive Sites of the World.
BASE Jumping
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One of the more unique
activities found in Malaysia, BASE jumping has long been a part
of sports tourism in Malaysia. Each year around October, dozens
of BASE jumpers flock to Malaysia for the Merdeka BASE Circuit.
They
travel around Malaysia for nearly a month, jumping from
various buildings such as the Petronas Towers and the Menara KL
Tower. Beginning in 2009, there will be an additional event held
in Sibu, Sarawak.
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