SEPANG, 4 August 2017 - AirAsia, the world’s best low-cost airline, is proud to welcome the prestigious Kuala Lumpur 2017 torch to our RedQ headquarters today in conjunction with the KL2017 Torch Run.

AirAsia is the Official Airline Partner and Gold Sponsor for the upcoming 29th SEA Games and 9th Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, collectively known as Kuala Lumpur 2017.

The torch has toured Malaysia, with the run kicking off in Johor on 14 May 2017, travelling to iconic locations in all the states and territories before its penultimate Selangor leg from 31 July to 5 August 2017.

Today's Sepang portion of the torch run started from the KLIA Main Terminal Building and made its way to AirAsia RedQ located 5.9km away. The KL2017 Torch Run is a continuation of the Rising Together Baton Run which traversed all 10 Asean countries and Timor Leste in conjunction with Kuala Lumpur 2017.

More than 800 runners participated in the torch run, which was attended by YB Datuk M. Saravanan, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports; Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, Executive Chairman of AirAsia Berhad and Group CEO of AirAsia X; Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO; Ms Kathleen Tan, President of China at AirAsia and Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X Berhad. The arrival of the torch was celebrated by AirAsia Allstars with a special ceremony held in front of RedQ.

AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said, “AirAsia is very excited to be part of the upcoming Games and we are especially thrilled to welcome the symbolic torch to RedQ. Sports is a big part of what we stand for. As a truly Asean airline, it is only natural for us to be part of the region's biggest sporting event - one that has inspired Asean with its message of unity and camaraderie - and we couldn't be prouder to host the torch here in our home.”

The 29th SEA Games, taking place in Kuala Lumpur on 19-30 August 2017, will feature 405 events across 38 sports with athletes from all 10 Asean nations and Timor Leste.

The 9th Asean Para Games, happening on 17-23 September 2017, will see para-athletes with cerebral palsy, mobility disabilities, visual disabilities and amputations from Asean vie for a podium finish in 16 para-sports.

This will be the sixth time Malaysia hosts the SEA Games and the third time it hosts the Asean Para Games.

Kuala Lumpur 2017 will be the first Games to be held after the formation of the Asean Community 2015, as reflected in its theme “Rising Together”.

AirAsia is passionate about sports. The Kuala Lumpur 2017 partnership is in line with AirAsia’s #DARETODREAM campaign, which aims to nurture young sporting talent in Malaysia as well as Asean.

AirAsia's line-up of athletes under the #DARETODREAM campaign includes track cyclists Azizulhasni Awang and Fatehah Mustapa, diver Leong Mun Yee, promising bodybuilder Faiz Ariffin and go-kart driver Muizzuddin Musyaffa. The airline also regularly conducts training camps for aspiring athletes, such as annual coaching clinics with British Olympic swimmer Ben Proud and English football club QPR.

AirAsia recently became the Title Sponsor for the newly launched AirAsia-BAM National Junior League, and also sponsors the AirAsia Malaysia Rugby League and AirAsia KL Junior League.

Track AirAsia’s sports journey through the hashtag #DARETODREAM or follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia)for latest AirAsia news and activities.