United Through Sports (UTS) has made significant progress towards the next edition of its flagship festival, the UTS World Summit 2025, by completing the first site visit in Putrajaya, a district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The visit, which took place on the second weekend of October, coincided with Malaysia’s National Sports Day, a day celebrating sport as a unifying force across the nation.
This initial visit provided an opportunity to explore the venues in Putrajaya and experience National Sports Day firsthand. It was fantastic to see youth engaging in a range of sports, from basketball to dragonboat racing, as well as urban sports including BMX and skating. The event also featured more modern activities such as esports and ultimate frisbee.
Putrajaya: The Perfect Backdrop
Putrajaya stands as a hub for sports in Malaysia, offering modern venues for activities ranging from water sports at the Marina and Water Sports Complex, to urban sports at the Putrajaya Challenge Park, along with varied sports arenas for basketball, football, futsal, and volleyball.
The Putrajaya district is the ideal backdrop for the UTS World Summit 2025, where Putrajaya’s streets will transform into vibrant venues for a variety of sports, encouraging participants to discover, try new sports, and get active together.
This site visit allowed UTS to get an inspiring first glimpse of what the UTS World Summit 2025 will look like, scheduled for 8th to 11th October 2025, culminating with Malaysia’s National Sports Day, or “Hari Sukan Negara.”
National Sports Day
Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Malaysia’s National Sports Day has become a key event in promoting the country’s sporting culture. The day aligns with the Olympic Agenda 2020+5, aiming to strengthen engagement with local authorities and expand the global sports movement. This year, over 20,000 participants took part in various activities. The National Sports Day offers the perfect synergy for the UTS World Summit 2025, which will mobilize even more youth, families, and stakeholders, creating a nationwide celebration of inclusive sports and the opportunity for everybody to take part.
An evolution for the UTS World Summit 2025
Building on previous editions, the UTS World Summit 2025 will take a two-tier approach, focusing on both youth and international/national sports federations. The summit will feature a global sports forum for sport officials, government representatives, and key stakeholders. Concurrently, it will host a Youth Forum, highlighting young leaders, discussing solutions to current youth challenges and showcasing youth talent of all abilities. The Youth Forum will include educational sessions, panels, and various activities.
On Saturday 11th October a wide array of sports will be featured across Putrajaya in Kuala Lumpur. UTS, in collaboration with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), will add a unique contribution towards activating everybody showcasing the transformative power of sport. Participants will have opportunities to try new sports and learn about important values such as inclusion and equality. The festival will highlight both para-sports and urban sports, demonstrating how sports can break down barriers and foster greater engagement.
Progress and Excitement for 2025
UTS and the LOC are committed to delivering an unforgettable event that celebrates sports while promoting inclusion, diversity, and accessibility, aiming to maximize value for both sports delegates and the youth.
Reflecting on the site visit, UTS CEO Julia Govinden commented:
“With such a warm Malaysian welcome it has been truly eye opening to see the extensive effort the Malaysian sport community is making towards the next generations and their community. With this partnership, we aim to ensure everyone is included, with a diverse array of sports and activities uniting all the Malay communities, it will showcase the high level of event delivery and infrastructure as a sport hub not just for Asia, but beyond.”
With the site visit complete and plans well underway, the countdown to the UTS World Summit 2025 has truly begun!
