ESS Organizes Eco-Challenge Event

 SINGAPORE: ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) is partnering with ZI Production to organize and broadcast the Perak AmanJaya International Eco Adventure, a five-day athletic competition, for the next three years.

Organized by the Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR)—the think tank of the state government of Perak—the first edition will take place December 2 to 6. The five-day competition requires each team to cover a total of 212 km within an anticipated time of 28 hours. Approximately 20 teams from around the world will be participating, and each team will be comprised of two members. They are required to compete in five main adventure disciplines: cycling, canoeing, trekking, caving and swimming.

The event is part of the Perak State government’s socio-economic initiatives aimed at promoting the development of youth and sports as well as eco-tourism. The Perak AmanJaya International Eco Adventure be jointly managed by Definite Compass and ZI Production, and will be broadcast in the form of highlight shows across ESPN STAR Sports’ regional footprint across 24 different countries in Asia.

Harvey Davis, the VP of ESS’s event management group, said: “We are very pleased to join hands with the Institut Darul Ridzuan in partnership with ZI Production to kick start a great eco-challenge initiative which we believe has a lot of potential in becoming a signature sporting event in Asia. I am confident that with our event management expertise coupled with the strength of our television networks, sports adventure fans across the region can look forward to a highly engaging and entertaining experience.”

IDR’s chief executive, Encik Aminudin Hashim, said: “With the massive television coverage to be accorded by ESPN STAR Sports, this surely bodes well not only for Perak Darul Ridzuan, but also Malaysia as a whole. The entire event will be showcased to audiences across a wide spectrum of demographics across Asia with their extensive broadcast networks. Such wide outreach of TV coverage offers a great opportunity to help boost the State’s eco-tourism potential in the near future and will be able to enhance the distinct eco-tourism destination like the 130 years old Royal Belum, which is just 2 hours away from the nearest airport, the mangrove of Kuala Sepetang and the unique and rich historical values of Gua Tempurung as well as the magical beauty of Pangkor Island.”