(Kuching, 6th) The successful hosting of the '2025 Borneo International Dancesport Open Championship (BOIDC)' not only demonstrates Sarawak's capability to organize international-level sporting events, but also marks a key milestone in promoting dancesport as an emerging competitive sports industry in Sarawak.
Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Development, stated that dancesport is rapidly developing worldwide and has great potential for promotion in Sarawak—not only as an annual event, but also to establish a comprehensive development ecosystem covering training, coaching, and technical aspects.
"Such events clearly demonstrate the public's growing interest in dancesport. The Sarawak government will fully support such events, not only at the international level, but also by encouraging the organization of more local competitions."
He said this last night during his speech at the closing ceremony of the 'Borneo International Dancesport Open Championship 2025.'
Gerald revealed that his department has discussed with the organizers to strengthen BOIDC as the primary platform for the development of dancesport in Sarawak.
He said that the goal of the Sarawak government is not only to host competitions, but also to establish a sustainable training system, cultivate local coaches and technical personnel, and at the same time discover young talents throughout the state.
"We hope BOIDC will become a reference center for technical training, education, and grassroots development. At the same time, we hope that youths from rural and remote areas can also gain opportunities for participation and training."
He pointed out that with the state government’s strategic planning and strong support, dancesport has the potential to become a new core sports program for Sarawak, further driving the growth of the sports economy and tourism industry.
The week-long '2025 Borneo International Dancesport Open Championship' was held in Kuching, attracting more than 2,000 contestants from 23 countries, including international athletes and judges from Latvia, South Korea, the Philippines, Romania, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other regions.
The event was themed 'Dancing Beyond Borders,' and was certified by the World Dancesport Federation (WDSF). During the competition, the 'International Dancesport Conference' was also held, featuring training workshops, knowledge sharing, and technical guidance courses, providing a comprehensive development platform for the region’s dancesport community.
Participating countries included: Malaysia, China, Cambodia, Colombia, Croatia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Macau, Mongolia, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Development, stated that dancesport is rapidly developing worldwide and has great potential for promotion in Sarawak—not only as an annual event, but also to establish a comprehensive development ecosystem covering training, coaching, and technical aspects.
"Such events clearly demonstrate the public's growing interest in dancesport. The Sarawak government will fully support such events, not only at the international level, but also by encouraging the organization of more local competitions."
He said this last night during his speech at the closing ceremony of the 'Borneo International Dancesport Open Championship 2025.'
Gerald revealed that his department has discussed with the organizers to strengthen BOIDC as the primary platform for the development of dancesport in Sarawak.
He said that the goal of the Sarawak government is not only to host competitions, but also to establish a sustainable training system, cultivate local coaches and technical personnel, and at the same time discover young talents throughout the state.
"We hope BOIDC will become a reference center for technical training, education, and grassroots development. At the same time, we hope that youths from rural and remote areas can also gain opportunities for participation and training."
He pointed out that with the state government’s strategic planning and strong support, dancesport has the potential to become a new core sports program for Sarawak, further driving the growth of the sports economy and tourism industry.
The week-long '2025 Borneo International Dancesport Open Championship' was held in Kuching, attracting more than 2,000 contestants from 23 countries, including international athletes and judges from Latvia, South Korea, the Philippines, Romania, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other regions.
The event was themed 'Dancing Beyond Borders,' and was certified by the World Dancesport Federation (WDSF). During the competition, the 'International Dancesport Conference' was also held, featuring training workshops, knowledge sharing, and technical guidance courses, providing a comprehensive development platform for the region’s dancesport community.
Participating countries included: Malaysia, China, Cambodia, Colombia, Croatia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Macau, Mongolia, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, and Vietnam.