KUALA LUMPUR – More than 500 participants, including 150 children, joined the Johor edition of the Kidslympic Malaysia Run 2025 earlier this month, turning the heart of Johor Bahru into a carnival of sport and family fun.
The event, held on August 10 around Jalan Dato’ Onn, was organised by Kidslympic Malaysia in collaboration with Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB), MESB, and supported by the Youth and Sports Ministry and the Education Ministry.
The Johor run was the second stop of the nationwide series, following Kuala Lumpur in June, with Penang and Selangor scheduled in September before culminating in a grand finale at Stadium Merdeka this October as part of Hari Sukan Negara.
Families took part in the 2.4km Parent and Child format, which encouraged adults to jog or walk alongside their children. Each child’s run was recorded with professional timing chips, while the event retained a non-competitive spirit.
The morning began with a Zumba warm-up, and the car-free route was lined with carnival booths, mascots, inflatable games, and sponsor activations. Participants also enjoyed stage games and lucky draws, with prizes ranging from sports gear to shopping vouchers.
“The Kidslympic Run is not just a race — it’s a moment where parents and children connect in a way that is active, fun, and memorable. Johor’s turnout shows that families are ready to embrace sports as a way of life,” said Wong Kang Woon, co-founder of Kidslympic Malaysia.
Parents welcomed the initiative. “My daughter trained for weeks and she proudly crossed the finish line. That’s priceless,” said Steven Gan, one of the runners.
The series forms part of the build-up to the Kidslympic Malaysia Games 2025, a multi-sport event exclusively for children to be staged at PNB Merdeka Ventures Stadium from October 10–13.
The Games are expected to attract over 1,500 young athletes competing in athletics, swimming, football, volleyball, gymnastics, 3×3 basketball and obstacle racing.
The inaugural edition in December 2024 drew more than 800 children across five sports, and organisers say this year’s programme will expand to involve thousands more from across the country. — August 29, 2025