Our history

1973 → 2027

Milestones

Compiled from archived official records of the Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation (MCR). Final details are being reconfirmed with MCR.

1. 1973

   Malaysian Council for Rehabilitation established

   MCR — the national body behind Abilympics Malaysia — was established on 17 November 1973.

2. 1981

   The first International Abilympics

   Tokyo, Japan hosted the first International Abilympics, coinciding with the UN International Year of Disabled Persons.

3. 1985

   Abilympics introduced in Malaysia

   MCR organised the first National Abilympics in conjunction with National Welfare Week.

4. 1995

   2 Bronze

   First international appearance — Perth

   Malaysia's debut at the 4th International Abilympics brought immediate results: Bronze in Car Driving (Lim Anuar) and Motor Mechanic (Mohd. Roshidi).

5. 2002

   National coordination renewed

   MCR revived its Abilympics Committee, anchoring Malaysia's role in the International Abilympics movement.

6. 2003

   Silver · Bronze

   Delhi — 6th International Abilympics

   Silver in Chess (Ho Hea King) and Bronze in Silk Hand Painting (Lim Anuar).

7. 2007

   2 Bronze

   Shizuoka — 7th International Abilympics

   Two Bronze medals: Painting (Lim Anuar) and Wood Carving (Mazri Mohamed).

8. 2011

   First Gold

   Seoul — Malaysia's first Gold

   Lim Anuar won Gold in Silk Hand Painting — Malaysia's first International Abilympics Gold, in his fourth international cycle.

   

9. 2016

   Gold · Silver · 2 Bronze

   Bordeaux — Gold again

   Gold in Studio Photography (Haymasuthan Periasamy), Silver + Excellence Award in Painting (Yeo Suh Chan), and Bronze in Creating Webpages and Silk Hand Painting.

10. 2017–2018

    A national pathway rebuilt

    Nationwide roadshows led to the National Abilympics, selecting the squad that would train for the world stage.

11. 2023

    Silver · 2 Bronze

    Metz — 16 Abilympians

    Malaysia sent 16 Abilympians to the 10th International Abilympics, winning 1 Silver, 2 Bronze and 2 Excellence Awards.

12. 2023–24

    Carrying the movement nationwide

    Roadshows and awareness campaigns carried Abilympics across the country — from the Sabah Roadshow in Kota Kinabalu to the Jakarta Declaration conference in Kuala Lumpur and the MAKPEM awareness campaign.

13. 2025

    National momentum

    A roadshow at Sungei Wang Plaza saw the appointment of Abilympics Malaysia's honorary patron, followed by the Abilympics Malaysia Festival — building public momentum toward national selection for Helsinki 2027.

    

14. 2027

    The next chapter

    Road to Helsinki

    The next chapter: Team Malaysia's journey to the 11th International Abilympics in Helsinki, Finland — funded by this campaign.