Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 22, 2026: The Olympic Council of Malaysia, in collaboration with the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), wrote a new chapter in Olympic Day celebrations on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the UTeM Campus in Durian Tunggal, Melaka.
The event was flagged off by H.E. Dr. Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, Governor of the State of Melaka and Chancellor of UTeM, alongside OCM President Dr. Norza Zakaria; OCM Deputy President and Chair of the Olympic Day Run 2026 Organising Committee, Dr. Haji Nur Azmi Ahmad; Prof. Dr. Massila Kamalrudin, Vice Chancellor of UTeM; and Prof. Dr. Mohd Rizal Salleh, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International) of UTeM.
For the first time in the history of the Olympic Day Run organised by OCM, this year’s edition adopted the special theme of “Green and Heritage” in alignment with UTeM’s Green Campus Initiative and the selection of the historic city of Melaka as the host location.
In addition, the organisation of the Olympic Day Run 2026 incorporated 10 sustainable actions aimed at reducing waste, minimising environmental impact and promoting greater awareness of green practices among participants and the wider community. OCM has recognised this significant achievement as “The First Olympic Day Run with Green Initiatives” and has officially registered it with the Malaysia Book of Records.
Dr. Norza Zakaria expressed his appreciation to the entire UTeM community for their strong support and commitment in ensuring the success of the Olympic Day Run, which attracted the participation of more than 5,000 UTeM students.
“Olympic Day is not merely a sporting celebration; it is a global platform that transcends national borders and unites communities regardless of background, in line with the Olympic Values of Excellence, Respect and Friendship," he said.
Dr. Norza, who was born in Melaka, also took the opportunity to contribute back to his home state by announcing a personal contribution of RM 50,000 to UTeM to establish the Engineering and Sports Excellence Award.
