Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican hopes Malaysians will give 100 per cent support to national athletes competing at Tokyo Olympics after announcing a three-medal target for them. Also in our news highlights today, Malaysia records 10,972 new Covid-19 cases and new SOPs for fully vaccinated individuals will be revealed after Hari Raya Aidil Adha.
National athletes bound for Tokyo get a taste of ‘the new normal’ as they prepare for the Summer Games, which is already shaping up to be a ‘different’ iteration of the world’s greatest sporting event.
The capacity to implement policies depends essentially on trust. Without trust in a minister or ministry, support for any form of blueprint, regardless how brilliant it may be, will be difficult to mobilise, writes Muhammad Yunus Zakariah.
Gymnasium operator Azlan Supian created a profile picture on Facebook with the words “Congratulations Youth and Sports Ministry, gyms closed for two months” as brickbats against ministry gain traction among enthusiasts.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican says his ministry will continue to support initiatives to ensure issues related to sexual harassment involving athletes will be addressed. He assures there will be no cover-ups and no room for sexual predators.
Former national gymnast Sarina Sundara Rajah says abuses happen in sports as there is no ecosystem to protect athletes, and urges Youth and Sports Ministry to view allegations of sexual assault made by a former national swimmer seriously.
If you think you’re reading something similar, you are right. The standard operating procedures (SOPs) continue to leave many confused as to what is going on.
The National Sports Vision will now be introduced in October instead of this month as Youth and Sports Ministry officials and representatives will canvass opinions to strengthen its decade-long policy.
The Podium Programme Enhancement Committee recommends that a forensic audit be carried out on the multi-million ringgit Podium Programme. In moving forward, it also suggests athletes and coaches contribute to the Employees Provident Fund.
High time for powers-that-be to reveal documents pertaining to sports, including the findings of the Podium Programme Enhancement Task Force, or sports officials will continue making the same mistakes over and over.
Stakeholders fear findings of Podium Programme Enhancement Task Force, among others, could be sidelined due to political instability and possible change of guard.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican revealed plans to introduce a 10-year National Sports Vision that would, among others, look at development at the grassroots, women in sports and the industry.
A more aggressive tax plan which facilitates private investment and boosts individual consumption in sports would be an impetus for the government to ease its move towards recognising sports as an industry.
