KOTA KINABALU: Mount Kinabalu has the potential to be one of the best places in the world as a high-altitude training centre.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Christina Liew said the eminent mountain has the altitude that challenges climbers to adapt and survive at different elevations.
"That makes Mount Kinabalu the best place for high altitude training.
"The idea of high-altitude training is to force your body to adapt to the lack of oxygen," she said during the launching of the High-Altitude Training Programme in Kundasang here yesterday.
This event is organised by the Global Expedition Club, Global Expedition Training and supported by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (SSL) and Sabah Parks.
Earlier this morning, 68 climbers from Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Korea and Iran ascended the mountain and will spend a night at Panalaban before summiting the following day.
The group is coached by Malaysian T. Ravichandran who had conquered Mount Everest three times.
Liew said that she hopes the training programme would turn the 4,095m Mount Kinabalu into a high-altitude training centre.
She said climbing Mount Kinabalu is absolutely one of the best activities in Sabah.