KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with the United Nations (UN), Sunway University organised the Rock the Goals 2025 celebration to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the launch of UN 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2015. The event brought together almost 1,500 students, staff, and guests alongside distinguished dignitaries from UN, UNICEF, European Union, World Health Organization, and ambassadors from all over the globe.
The night, emceed by RD, famous radio host on Malaysia's MIX radio station, featured electrifying performances by popular Malaysian artists including Malaysia's most inspiring neurodivergent band Zimi'J, multi-award-winning artist Uriah See, before concluding with a high-energy finale by DJ Blink, the acclaimed electronic artist, that had the entire crowd on their feet.
A key highlight of the evening was the Rock the Goal Adaptive Fashion Show, inspired by the spirit of punk rock to showcase fashion as a force for inclusivity and sustainability. The runway featured individuals from diverse backgrounds, all dressed in sustainable fabric creations by Sunway Fashion Design and Technology students.
The celebration also featured video messages of support from world-leading organisations, including the world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay, who sent a personal message all the way from London, congratulating Sunway University on its remarkable efforts in advancing the SDGs, quoting "Sunway, you really are a Campus With A Conscience."
United Nations Malaysia Resident Coordinator a.i., Robert Gass said, "To all the young people here, you are the heartbeat of this movement. 10 years ago, the world united over the 17 SDGs, but these goals need more than governments and United Nations, they need your ideas, your courage, and your action. Music inspires, unites and reminds us that change is possible. Every action, big or small, brings us closer to the world we want. Together, we can achieve the SDGs and let's keep rocking the goals."
President and Vice Chancellor of Sunway University, Professor Sibrandes Poppema added, "We were honoured to host this landmark celebration in partnership with the United Nations. The energy and passion of our students and community reflected Sunway's commitment to sustainability and inclusivity. Rock the Goals 2025 truly showed how education can inspire action and nurture a generation ready to achieve the SDGs."
Rock the Goals 2025 was hailed as a credit to Malaysia, amplifying the nation's commitment to sustainability on the global stage.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
United Nations Rock the Goals in Malaysia
United Nations Rock the Goals in Malaysia
SANYA, China, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Lion Sports (formerly Alibaba Sports), a global sports event operator, is redefining how major athletic competitions and tourism converge through the coordinated integration of digital platforms and consumer services. The recent 2025 Hainan (Sanya) Marathon, supported by the company, showcased an "event-as-journey" experience that delivered a professionally operated, high-quality racing platform while supporting measurable economic growth for the host city. The marathon saw hotel occupancy in Sanya soar to 92%, with a notable 35% surge in spending at local businesses along the race route, establishing a promising blueprint for the scalable "racecation" model.
"We are committed to creating lasting value for athletes and sports enthusiasts," said Yang Yong, General Manager of Events and Commercialization at event partner Orange Lion Sports. "We activated resources across the Alibaba ecosystem, including Taobao, Fliggy, Alibaba Health, Ant Chain, and Amap, to extend engagement beyond race day. This approach attracted runners from across Hainan, other parts of China, and overseas, while encouraging additional event-related spending."
The provincial tourism and sports department has introduced funding incentives for 2026 sports events to attract national and international competitions. Orange Lion Sports has demonstrated how large-scale events can generate sustained economic activity and benefit local businesses by digitally integrating dining, lodging, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. In partnership with Taobao, the company launched a "Winter Warm-up Festival" that distributed tailored promotional vouchers and offers ahead of the event, designed to connect race participation with consumer engagement by introducing regional culinary specialties such as fermented vinegar hot pot and traditional Li-Miao cuisine to runners across China.
The economic benefits were sustained beyond the race period. According to Fliggy data, hotel bookings in Sanya began rising steadily from late October 2025, when event promotions launched, and remained strong throughout the marathon period. The momentum extended beyond the race, coinciding with the New Year holiday travel period. Data from the Sanya tourism bureau shows that during the 2026 New Year holiday, the city welcomed 650,800 visitor arrivals, with tourism revenue of 1.299 billion yuan (approx. US$186 million) generated, illustrating the role of the "racecation" model in supporting tourism demand.
In the future, Orange Lion Sports will harness AI technology to enhance sports events and promote fitness for all, in line with their assertion at CES in 2017: AI is the future of sports development.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Harnessing the Power of Sports: Orange Lion Sports Leads the Way in Driving the Emerging Trend of "Racecation"
