OCM starts tree-planting programme

THE Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) want to play an active role in the Billion Tree Campaign – a project undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – in an effort to save the environment.

The OCM, as an affiliate of the IOC, have initiated the project in Malaysia. The OCM’s first tree-planting programme in Malaysia was launched with five trees, donated by Kuala Lumpur City Hall, planted at Padang Merbok on Sunday, in conjunction with the Mizuno Wave Run.

Saving the environment: Sieh planting a tree in the Billion Tree programme during the Mizuno Wave Run.

Besides OCM secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, the others given the honour of being part of the programme were KL City Hall senior landscape architect R. Vijayakumar, Mizuno Corporation Japan’s Asia Oceania Department Sports Business Section head Taizo Asai, World of Sports (WOS) chief operating officer Ean Ooi and Pacesetters Athletics Club president Munning Jamaluddin.

The UNEP and IOC had taken the responsibility of being part of the first global tree-planting project, launched in Nairobi during the 12th conference of the Parties of the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Nov 2006.

To date, the UNEP and its partners have received about 822 million pledges. The IOC had also invited all National Olympic Committees, including the OCM, to participate in the Billion Tree Campaign.

The OCM have taken the initiative to liase with the National Resources and Environment Ministry, KL City Hall, National Sports Associations, sponsors and supporters on participation in the Billion Tree Campaign.

Sieh, who also took part in the Mizuno Wave Run, said the OCM had received pledges of more than 300 trees.

“We have started with five trees – this is the beginning. The OCM will be carrying out more tree-planting events with support from the National Sports Associations as well as other sports organisers,” said Sieh.

The OCM had also placed boxes at several locations in Padang Merbok for the participants to dispose unwanted things.

Sieh said most of the things could be recycled and would be handed over to the authorities.

“The place was clean as the participants showed their concern for the environment by throwing the unwanted things into the boxes,” added Sieh.

The Mizuno Wave Run, organised by World of Sports, attracted about 2,959 participants.

Sea of runners: Participants at the start of the Mizuno Wave Run at Padang Merbok.

WOS marketing manager Glenny J. Da Costa said the number of participants had exceeded their target.

“We were unable to accept more. It was a very successful Run even though we did not offer any cash prizes,” said Da Costa.

Former national junior R. Kunasegaran won the men’s Open category after clocking 39:17 to finish ahead of Eliud Kiprono Chemwolo(39:28) and Casey Lim Khon Seng (39:50).

In the women’s Open category, the winner was Mariana Mohammad in 45:20, followed by A. Amutha (46:10) and Emilia Jamil (49:18).

The Star