Borneo Games
Borneo Games (; ) is an annual multi-sport event involving participants from regions and countries in the island of Borneo. This sporting event began in 1955. The sport was revived in 2005 and was held every 2 years until 2013. It was revived again in 2025 in Kuching, Sarawak. In the first season of the Borneo Games, in 1955, only three regions participated, namely Brunei, North Borneo (now Sabah), and Sarawak. The current latest EDition of the sporting event is scheduled to be held in Kuching from to 28 September 2025.
History
The first Borneo Games were held in 1955 in Seria, Brunei with three British Borneo territories as participants, namely Brunei, North Borneo (now Sabah), and Sarawak. It was organised by the British Borneo Amateur Athletics Board to select British Borneo representatives at the championships in Malaya. In the 1960s, several types of sports were competed between the three regions such as association football, badminton, hockey, and basketball. In 1970, the Borneo Games were discontinued at the 16th edition due to several factors such as financial problems.
Participants
Region |
|
|---|---|
West Kalimantan |
|
South Kalimantan |
|
Central Kalimantan |
|
East Kalimantan |
|
North Kalimantan |
|
- Invited participants:
(2009)
(2013)
(2013)
Makassar (2013)
(2013)
Tournament edition
Edition |
Year |
Host city |
Host region |
Participants |
Competitors |
Sports |
Championship team |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
1955 |
Seria |
30 July 1955 |
3 |
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3 |
1957 |
Jesselton |
27 July 1957 |
3 |
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6 |
1960 |
Kuching |
9 July 1960 |
3 |
17 |
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8 |
1962 |
Jubilee Sports Field, Kuching |
13 July 1962 |
14 July 1962 |
3 |
(men) |
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9 |
1963 |
Jesselton |
13 July 1963 |
14 July 1963 |
3 |
(men) |
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13 |
1967 |
Seria |
14 July 1967 |
15 July 1967 |
3 |
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14 |
1968 |
Kuching |
26 July 1968 |
27 July 1968 |
3 |
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16 |
1970 |
Brunei |
17 July 1970 |
18 July 1970 |
3 |
Cancelled due to the Sultan of Brunei's birthday and the Commonwealth Games |
||||
Discontinued and replaced by the sports events in Brunei |
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I |
2005 |
17 December 2005 |
21 December 2005 |
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II |
2007 |
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III |
2009 |
29 November 2009 |
6 December 2009 |
7 |
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IV |
2011 |
Samarinda |
4 December 2011 |
11 December 2011 |
8 |
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V |
2013 |
14 September 2013 |
21 September 2013 |
12 |
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VI |
2025 |
Petra Jaya Sports Complex, Kuching |
24 September 2025 |
28 September 2025 |
5 |
8 |
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VII |
2027 |
Samarinda |
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Sports
Several sports events were contested at the first edition of the Borneo Games. Since the Borneo Games were revived, more sports events have been contested, including traditional sports.
Sports |
Year |
|---|---|
Badminton |
2011, 2025 |
Association football |
2011 |
Bowling alley |
2009, 2025 |
Eight-ball |
2009 |
Futsal |
2011 |
Spinning top |
2011 |
Golf |
2025 |
Hockey |
2009 |
Kempo |
2011 |
Archery |
2025 |
Menyumpit |
2025 |
Nine-ball |
2009 |
Athletics |
1962, 2011, 2025 |
Pencak silat |
2009 |
Swimming |
2025 |
Sepak takraw |
2011 |
Tug of war |
2025 |
Tennis |
2009 |
Reorganization
After being discontinued in 1970, the Borneo Games were re-organised in Sabah in 2005. This new tournament is also competed by provinces in Kalimantan, Indonesia and other invited foreign regions. More events are being contested including traditional sports. The Borneo Games were halted again in 2013 in Labuan and will be re-organised in 2025 in Kuching.
See also
- National Sports Week
- Sukma Games
- SEA Games