Junior Olympian Award: Award to inspire children

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaa’far (right) is flanked by Nestle Products Sdn Bhd business executive manager Don Howart, OCM deputy president Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan (second from left) and former Olympian Ishtiaq Mobarak at the Milo-OCM-MSSM Junior Olympian Awards launch at Wisma OCM yesterday. — Pic: HASAN ISMAIL

MILO, in conjunction with the Beijing Olympic Games, yesterday launched the Milo-OCM-MSSM Junior Olympian Award for 29 children under the age of 15 who have excelled in sports and studies.

The award, first mooted during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, is to celebrate the Olympic Games, the biggest sporting event on the planet.

"The objective is to inspire our children to feel that they too are part of the magic, drama, excitement and spirit of the Olympics and the noble values of dedication, patriotic honour and perseverance that the Games represents," said Don Howart, the business executive manager, Nestle Products Sdn Bhd, at the launch of the event at the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) yesterday.

Some of the previous notable winners of the award who went on to make it big are Nicol David, Ong Beng Hee and Low Wee Wern (all squash), Au Li Yen and Lim Wai Chi (both gymnastics). Also present at yesterday's launch were OCM president of Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaa'far, deputy president Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan and honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi.

Former Olympian Ishtiaq Mobarak was a guest at the event to share his Olympic experience.
Ishtiaq qualified for the semi-finals of the 110m hurdles in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The Milo-OCM-MSSM Junior Olympian Award winners will each receive a Milo Sports voucher worth RM1,500, a certificate of excellence and a commemorative Olympian winners medal.

Nomination forms will be available on the Milo website at www.milo.com.my from April 30.

NST