Selangor Journal
The Sepang International Circuit. — Picture via FACEBOOK/ASIA ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

Sepang International Circuit honoured to be considered to host Sukma ceremonies

By Yasmin Ramlan

SHAH ALAM, Jan 24 — The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) management has expressed excitement and pride at being considered as a potential venue for the 22nd Malaysia Games (Sukma) ceremonies.

Its chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif revealed initial discussions with the Selangor government and Sukma secretariat have been held, signalling promising prospects for the iconic circuit to play a key role in the prestigious sporting event.

“We are both excited and honored to be considered as a potential venue for the Sukma opening and closing ceremonies.

“The SIC offers the unique advantage of being a dynamic venue capable of hosting multifaceted events, and we are eager to collaborate with the Sukma secretariat to bring this vision to life,” he told Selangor Journal yesterday.

On Monday, state executive for youth, sports and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi said the 2026 Sukma and Para Sukma Management Committee is considering SIC as a venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.

The ceremonies for the Para Sukma, meanwhile, will potentially be held at the MBPJ Stadium. Both games are expected to take place in August 2026.

Sepang International Circuit chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif speaks at the Driving Experience Centre groundbreaking ceremony at the Sepang International Go-Kart Circuit on June 14, 2022. — Picture via FACEBOOK/SEPANG CIRCUIT

If confirmed, the move to host the Sukma opening and closing ceremonies at the SIC would represent a significant departure from the tradition of holding such events in stadiums.

This approach mirrors the innovative spirit seen in the recent Olympic Games, where the opening ceremony on July 26 last year was famously held along the river Seine.

The Summer Olympics opener saw over 10,000 athletes parading on boats and drew around 300,000 spectators, who gathered along the riverbanks.

Azhan Shafriman said while the finer details regarding the SIC’s potential role as the host for the Sukma ceremonies are yet to be finalised, it remains committed to ongoing discussions with the Sukma secretariat and Selangor government to ensure a seamless planning and execution process.

According to its website, the SIC’s main grandstands and corporate suites have a capacity of 32,000, while the track overall can accommodate more than 170,000 spectators at a time.

The SIC, which was built in February 1998 in a record 14 months, has hosted several key international sporting events, including the F1 Grand Prix, MotoGP, Super GT, World Touring Car Cup, Asian Le Mans Series, and Superbike World Championship.

Selangor last hosted Sukma in 1998, where it emerged overall champion.

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