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Redevelopment of Kuala Lumpur’s Sports City has been completed ahead of the Malaysian capital’s staging of the 2017 South East Asian Games multi-sport event.

The Channel NewsAsia website said that more than US$116 million has been spent by the Malaysian government on remodelling the former Bukit Jalil Sports Complex ahead of the SEA Games, which run from 19th to 30th August. The ASEAN Para Games will follow from 17th to 23rd September.

Sports City’s stadiums have been fitted with new seats, with a new diving tower and other equipment having been installed at the aquatics centre.

It marks the first major revamp of the precinct since Kuala Lumpur’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 1998.

Sports City Project Director S Nalgunalingam told Channel NewsAsia “we (went) through this benchmarking exercise where we visited at least 40 different stadiums and venues around the world - in Europe and the UK.

“We are very happy with what we have achieved here in 15 months.”

Following the conclusion of the Games, a further renovation project, worth US$26m, will begin. According to Channel NewsAsia, this work will include the building of a new youth park, convention centre and retail mall, among other amenities.

It is hoped the money invested will transform Sports City into a complex that does not just host major events, but also acts as a year-round destination for members of the public.

Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin told Channel NewsAsia “we’re going to open some of the facilities to the public so they can run on the track, they can enjoy the stadium, they can really spend an entire day here of sports and recreation.

“So we’ve reimagined this whole place from a sports facility that you go to and you leave as quickly as possible, to (one) where it’s a destination - a lifestyle destination for Malaysians.”

Image courtesy of Populous

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