SCHOOL SPORTS ON A CEMENT FLOOR

SRJK Bukit Jalil school had their sports day on a cement floor approximately the size of a badminton court. How to produce Champions if this is the state of sports in schools, where the school fields are taken away. Watch Malaysiakini video here .

Can someone from the Education Ministry look into this. What are the MIC leaders doing about the situation ?

WHATS THE TARGET ZOL

Guangzhou Asian Games host, China's promise of organising the best games ever, was clearly evident through the transformation of the city's landscape which reflects a sports city outlook, said Malaysian contingent Chef-de-Mission Datuk Zolkples Embong.

Zolkples who visited Guangzhou, the third largest city in China with a population of about 10 million, last week, said the city had undergone a massive transformation.

"The Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC) have worked hard and channeled a lot of effort towards ensuring the success of the games, especially in terms of facilities.

"Facilities like the Games Village in Guangzhou can be regarded as better than the Games Village for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," he told Bernama on Tuesday.

Malaysian athletes would have no reasons to complaint about the excellent facilities provided by GAGOC, he said.

Zolkples who is also the National Sports Council (NSC) director general said he had also visited a number the 12 new venues built and nine more upgraded for the games and expected to be ready by May.

The opening and closing ceremonies would be held at the new Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre which has a capacity of 80,000.

"With banners and buntings everywhere, Guangzhou looks like it is ready to host the games. The outlook of the whole city seems to be given a facelift and there are special lanes for athletes to go to the stadiums for training or competition," he said.

He added that GAGOC would use the services of 60,000 volunteers who were vetted from 800,000 applications received, to ensure the smooth success of the Games from Nov 13-21.

Zolkples added that GAGOC would also provide translation services to the 45 member countries of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

GAGOC's deputy marketing department director Yuan Yue who visited Malaysia last year had said that USD500 million (RM16.5 billion) was allocated for infrastructure and facilities for the games.

RUNNER RUNNING AN ASSOCIATION ?

SOMEONE called me to talk about an association that has been the limelight in the last couple of day. He said " Chris why don't you check who is this runner that is trying to put pressure on the official to leave or to terminate a sponsorship contract."

He added on " The runner must be so powerful that people can be removed or suspended, is this why Malaysian Sports does not succeed"

I have always thought only in politics they have runners, it seems sports associations are also using this mode of operation .. Some running away, some will be caught with their pants down.. It is just matter of time.

To those runners please try the latest new balance R320 shoe it's fantastic...

ASTRO ARENA LAUNCHED

Local sports fans will be able to enjoy 24 hours of sports action when Astro Arena, a fully sports channel on Astro is launched on March 26.

Astro Arena, to be aired on Astro's channel 801, would be showing Malaysians competing in the SEA Games, the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, Asian Games in Guangzhou, China and the Youth Olympics in Singapore.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Astro Arena can play an important role in the development and promotion of sports in the country as the nation aspires to excel regionally and internationally.

"The timing of the launch is perfect as the Education Ministry will be introducing various activities for school children under the 1 student, 1 sport initiative," said Ahmad Shabery during the launch.

Ahmad Shabery said the future of Malaysian sports depends largely on coverage from the media to reach the masses while the sports itself had contributed tremendously to the economy of the country.

"Sports is a huge industry and has its own economic sectors and provides a platform for sports science experts, athletes, sports insurance companies to earn big money," he said.

Measat Broadcast Network Systems chief executive officer Datuk Rohana Rozhan said Astro Arena was able to fulfill the demand for sports content in the country through live telecast of local and international sports events.

In efforts to draw interest of the younger generation, we have roped local sports personalities like Datuk Lee Chong Wei (badminton), Esther Cheah (bowling), Mohd Zaquan Adha (football) and P. Mariappan (Paralympics) to be our Astro Arena Ambassadors, she said.

BAM IN CRISIS

BAM Secretary Gangga Rao was suspended with immediate effect by BAM President Datuk Nadzmi Salleh yesterday. Did BAM serve Gangga a show cause letter ? Did Nadzmi inform the council members? Read Star's take here and New Straits Times here.

Blogger Satwant Singh manage to speak to Gangga Rao read Gangga's reactions here.

At the Astro Arena Launch, Sports Minister Datuk Shabery Cheek said that National Sports Council (NSC) and Sports Ministry will monitor the situation.

I suggest the Minister stay out of it. I think Datuk Nadzmi is good enough to manage the problem.

FAM EXPLAINS

FAM PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ISSUE ON HARIMAU MUDA IN SLOVAKIA

INTRODUCTION

• IN THE WAKE OF SEVERE CRITICISM AIMED AT THE FA OF MALAYSIAPERTAINING TO THE SLOVAKIAN STINT FOR THE HARIMAU MUDA A TEAM, THE SECRETARIAT IS COMPELLED TO CLARIFY A FEW ISSUES RAISED BY THE
MEDIA.

• THOUGH THE SECRETARIAT WISHE S TO REFRAIN FROM QUESTIONING THE MOTIVES OF CERTAIN QUARTERS IN HIGHLIGHTING THE ISSUE, THERE IS A NEED TO CLEAR THE AIR ARISING FROM ONE MEDIA REPORT THAT WAS PUBLISHED ABOUT A WEEK AGO, CASTING ASPERSIONS OVER THE POSITION OF THE HARIMAU MUDA TEAM IN SLOVAKIA.

• IT NEEDS TO BE REITERATED THE OBJECTIVE OF SENDING THE HARIMAU MUDA TEAM TO SLOVAKIA IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATIONAL TEAM IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT SEA GAMES IN 2011,
WHICH IS TO DEFEND THE GOLD MEDAL. IT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPOSURE TO HIGH LEVEL GAMES AND EXPERIENCE FOR THE YOUNG TIGERS.

• IT WAS FAM’S COLLECTIVE DECISION TO SEND THE TEAM TO SLOVAKIA AND
NOT AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION.

• FAM DID NOT GO ON A FUND‐RAISING CAMPAIGN NOR MADE ANY REQUEST
TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR FUNDING TO SEND THE TEAM. ALL COST IS
BORNE BY HRH THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF. THUS, THERE IS NO PUBLIC FUND
INVOLVED AND IT IS SOLELY AN FAM INITIATIVE. BELOW IS THE
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE STINT IN SLOVAKIA FOR MOHD
AZRAAI KHOR ABDULLAH AND HIS TEAM.

BACKGROUND

• AFTER HARIMAU MUDA BECAME THE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS IN
2009, THE FAM TECHNICAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED TO THE FAM
COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE/INCLUDE THE TEAM IN THE
SUPER LEAGUE 2010.

• THE COMPETITION COMMITTEE ENDORSED THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE’S
RECOMMENDATION AND HARIMAU MUDA WAS INCLUDED AS ONE OF THE
SUPER LEAGUE TEAMS FOR 2010 SEASON.

• UNFORTUNATELY, THE FAM COUNCIL ON 7 DECEMBER 2009 OPPOSED THE
IDEA.

• HARIMAU MUDA TEAM WAS THUS LEFT IN A LURCH WITHOUT ANY
COMPETITION TO PARTICIPATE IN. AS THIS TEAM, BEING AN UNDER‐21
TEAM, HAD BEEN EARMARKED FOR THE SEA GAMES IN 2011, THE FAM
SECRETARIAT THEN WAS TASKED TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE
TEAM TO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER LEAGUES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE
REGION.

• FAM APPROACHED FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE (FAS) AS WELL
AS THE SLOVAK FA. FAS WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT THE TEAM BUT DUE TO
TIME CONTRAINTS, WE WERE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE “S” LEAGUE.
FORTUNATELY THE SLOVAK FA WAS ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE FAM.

SLOVAK FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
• ON 26TH JANUARY 2010, FAM RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM SLOVAK
FA STATING THAT THEY HAVE NO OBJECTION, PROVIDED IT IS ACCEPTED BY
THE UNION OF LEAGUE CLUBS, THE BODY THAT MANAGES THE SLOVAK
FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

• SUBSEQUENTLY, ON 27TH JANUARY 2010, THE UNION OF LEAGUE CLUB OF
SLOVAKIA WROTE TO FAM SAYING THAT THEY HAVE NO OBJECTIONS,
PROVIDED FAM IS AGREEABLE TO THEIR TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

FAM FINANCE COMMITTEE AND EXCO

• UPON GETTING THIS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE, THE FAM DEPUTY PRESIDENT,
WHO IS ALSO THE TECHNICAL CHAIRMAN AND THE GENERAL SECRETARY,
HAD AN AUDIENCE WITH HRH THE PRESIDENT TO OBTAIN HRH’S BLESSINGS.

• UPON GETTING HRH THE PRESIDENT’S CONSENT, THE MATTER WAS TABLED
AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND EXCO ON 31 JANUARY 2010. BOTH THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE EXCO APPROVED THE PARTICIPATION OF
HARIMAU MUDA IN THE SLOVAK LEAGUE.

• THE GENERAL SECRETARY WAS THEN SENT TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS WITH
THE SLOVAK FA AND THE UNION OF LEAGUE CLUBS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 2010.

• THE DECISION TO SEND THE TEAM TO SLOVAKIA WAS NOT A ONE MAN’S
DECISION. IT WAS APPROVED BY HRH THE PRESIDENT AND SUBSEQUENTLY
ENDORSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE EXCO.

GENERAL SECRETARY’S VISIT TO SLOVAKIA

• HAD A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF SLOVAK FA AND THE PRESIDENT
OF UNION OF LEAGUE CLUBS PRESIDENTS.
• BOTH THE PRESIDENTS WELCOMED THE PARTICIPATION OF THE MALAYSIAN
U21 TEAM AS THIS IS SOMETHING NEW TO THEM AND THEY EXPECT TO
CREATE INTEREST AMONG THEIR LEAGUE TEAMS AND SUPPORTERS.
• AT THAT POINT OF TIME IT WAS MADE KNOWN TO THE GENERAL SECRETARY
THAT THE MALAYSIAN TEAM WILL PLAY ACCORDING TO THE LEAGUE
SCHEDULE.
• IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT POINTS WILL BE AWARDED TO THEIR TEAM
FOR A WIN AND A DRAW BUT NOT TO THE MALAYSIAN TEAM.

• FAM HAS TO FULFILL THE LEAGUE FEES LIKE ANY OTHER SLOVAK TEAM AND
BEAR THE COST FOR GAME ORGANISATION SUCH AS STADIUM RENTAL, FEES
FOR THE ADMINISTRATORS, MATCH OFFICIALS, BALL BOYS, MEAL FOR THE
OFFICIALS AND VISITING TEAM ETC.

• THE ABOVE POINTS WERE CONVEYED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MALAYSIAN
MEDIA DURING THE PC HELD ON 19TH FEBRUARY 2010.

CONCLUSION

• THERE IS NOTHING TO LIE OR HIDE TO THE MEDIA ON THIS ISSUE.
• THE TEAM GET TO PLAY 14 HIGH QUALITY MATCHES WITH 14 SLOVAK DIV
ONE LEAGUE CLUBS AND NUMEROUS FRIENDLY MATCHES IN BETWEEN THE
LEAGUE SCHEDULE, ON AN AVERAGE 0F ONE MATCH PER WEEK.
OVER AND ABOVE THAT, 4 FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL MATCHES WITH
POLAND, AUSTRIA, CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY UNDER 21 TEAMS HAVE
BEEN ARRANGED.
• THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF YOUTH AND SPORTS, YB DATO’ RAZALI IBRAHIM
AND DATO’ ZOLKPLES EMBONG, DIRECTOR‐GENERAL OF NATIONAL SPORTS
COUNCIL (NSC), WHO WERE THERE ON 6TH MARCH 2010 TO WITNESS THE
2ND GAME THE HARIMAU MUDA PLAYED, CAN TESTIFY ON THE STANDARD OF
THE MATCH THAT WAS PLAYED.
• ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE HAS OFFERED PLACES TO TWO OR
THREE PLAYERS TO BE ATTACHED TO THEIR CLUB.
• UNION OF LEAGUE CLUBS HAS OFFERED FAM TO PARTICIPATE IN FULL
SEASON OF THE LEAGUE, FROM AUGUST TO NOVEMBER AND FEBRUARY TO
MAY 2011. WE HAVE NOT MADE ANY DECISION ON THIS OFFER.
• CREATING CONTROVERSIES OVER NOTHING WOULD CREATE A BAD IMAGE

FOR FAM AND MAY AFFECT THE MORALE TO THE TEAM.

RM 2 MILLION TO SETTLE ARREARS

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced a RM2mil allocation for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to pay bonuses in arrears for its players and coaches.
This came after national shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s victory in the All-England tournament on Sunday.

“This is a long-awaited victory at one of the highest levels of badminton. This will be a stepping stone to winning the Thomas Cup,” Najib said after he and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor received Lee and coach Datuk Misbun Sidek at their official residence yesterday.

Najib said he had high hopes of Malaysia winning the Thomas Cup in May, but did not want to put pressure on the players.

“I just want them to concentrate on preparing for it,” he said.
Najib also said there were plans to set up a badminton academy to develop younger players and strengthen the country’s position in world badminton.

“If there is no systematic development in the sport, we may run out of players of calibre in the future,” he said, adding that the Youth and Sports, and Education ministries were currently identifying locations for the academy.

Najib also said the Youth and Sports Ministry would help BAM with its administrative processes. “For example, they can arrange for our players to arrive at overseas venues earlier, so they have more time to prepare.”- Bernama