Teams participating 19 Opening ceremony 25 May 2000 | Events 332 in 29 sports Closing ceremony 4 June 2000 | |
Motto Cabaran Abad 21
(Challenge of the 21st Century) Main venue Batu Kawan Stadium, Batu Kawan | ||
The 2000 Sukma Games, officially known as the 8th Sukma Games, was a multi-sports event held in Penang from 25 May 2000 to 4 June 2000 with 332 events in 29 sports and disciplines featured in the games.
Contents
This was Penang's first time to host the Sukma Games. Penang is the seventh state to host the Sukma Games after Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Johor, Perak, Pahang and Selangor, the second in Northern Malaysia after Perak and the first in the 21st Century.
The final medal tally was led by Selangor, followed by Sarawak and Perak. Several national and games records were broken during the games. Perakian swimmer Allen Ong and Kuala Lumpurian swimmer Sia Wai Yen were announced as Best Sportsman and Best Sportswoman of the games respectively. With little or no controversies at all, the games were a successful ones hosted by Penang yet with the rising standard of competition amongst the Malaysian states.
Host city
This is the 8th edition of Sukma Games since its introduction in 1986. It was for the very first time the state held such a national sporting event. At that time, all states held their respective Sukma Games except for Sabah, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Terengganu, Malacca, Perlis and Kelantan.
Prior to this games, Penang has yet to host any Sukma Games. As this is the first time the Isle of Pearl held such a grand national sporting event, many of the sports venues and facilities were either completed in time or renovated. Penang won the hosting rights of Sukma Games through bidding, the only state to do so so far.
Logo and mascot
The 2000 Sukma Games logo is an image of an athlete running resembling a number two, with three number zeros behind represents the year of which Penang hosts the Sukma Games. The image of the athlete represents the speed and agility of the participating athletes in the games. The Penang Bridge represents Penang as host of the 2000 Sukma Games.
The 2000 Sukma Games mascot is a pair of parakeet named Bang Bayan and Chombee. The mascots of the games are the first Sukma Games mascot to depict both male and female mascots. Parakeets are kept as a pet at home and are birds that can mimic human voice and perform some tricks. In the tradition of Indian fortune teller in Penang, the Parakeet is often used to predict one’s luck. The name Chombee is a famous local name in Penang. In the games, the parakeets' are said to represent the agility, speed, courage, bravery and the spirit of the athletes as mentioned in the Olympic motto: Faster, Higher and Stronger, while the male and female parakeets represents the participation of both male and female athletes in the games.
Medal table
A total of 1041 medals, comprising 332 gold medals, 322 silver medals and 387 bronze medals were awarded to athletes. Host Penang performance was their best ever yet, and were placed fourth overall among participating states.
* Host state (Penang)
Broadcasting
Radio Televisyen Malaysia was responsible for live streaming of several events, opening and closing ceremony of the games.