The Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) has made a deliberate effort to open up its state-of-the-art sports facilities to the wider community, not just its students and staff. According to official information, the university’s sports complex was built with both elite and shared usage in mind: while it was developed to support high-level athlete training and competitions, it has also been explicitly made available for public use, community associations, and local schools.

The sports complex includes facilities such as an Olympic-size swimming pool, indoor badminton and futsal stadiums, tennis and basketball courts, and an athletics track.

UNIMAS allows members of the public and local sports associations to use the sports facilities, which means local schools and community groups can also benefit from access to quality venues.

This shared access supports the university’s commitment to promoting health, wellness, and sports participation within the broader Sarawak community. It aligns with the university’s goals of fostering both student well-being and community development.

By offering its sports infrastructure to local schools and the public, UNIMAS helps reduce barriers to participation in sport and physical activity; this supports healthier lifestyles, inclusive access, and community engagement.

Schools that may lack high-end sports facilities can take advantage of UNIMAS’s courts and stadiums, thereby enhancing their physical education programmes and after-school activity options.

Community clubs and associations gain access to better venues, which can help them organise competitions, training sessions, and wellness activities that raise the overall standard of sporting culture in the region.

For programs aiming to increase community well-being through sport, UNIMAS’s model offers a practical blueprint

Embed shared-use agreements so that university-owned sports assets serve both academic and public health missions.

Create booking systems and awareness campaigns so local schools and community groups know how to access the facilities.

Partner with community stakeholders to run joint sports-events, youth clinics, and wellness initiatives using the venue infrastructure.

In summary, UNIMAS’s shared sports-facility policy stands as a tangible example of how higher-education institutions can support local health and well-being outcomes by opening their resources to the public, thereby strengthening the link between academia, community sport, and wellness in the region.