PUTRAJAYA: It is rare to see Malaysian athletes speaking up on sports issues.
But now they will get a chance to speak up and be heard following the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s (OCM) decision to form a Ntional Athletes Commission (NAC).
Yesterday, OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaa’far said that the OCM hoped that six athletes would be elected into the NAC.
“We want the athletes to know a lot more about the workings of the OCM. We want them to know why certain decisions are made — after all it is about the athletes,” said Tunku Imran after the first — Road to London — Olympic Games programme held by the Steering Committee here yesterday.
“And we also want them to be part of the OCM’s decision-making process. This has already been done at the IOC (International Olympic Committee) level,”
Tunku Imran said there were certain criteria for the athletes to fulfil.
“We will organise an election on a particular day. All six athletes will be elected and at least one has to be of a different gender. Only one man and one woman will represent the commission at OCM board meetings. They will have equal rights as any other OCM members in the decision-making process,” said Tunku Imran.
“They have to be a national athletes and have competed in major official Games. We are still looking into the details of this.”
This is the second time the OCM are trying to form an athletes commission. Previously, the athletes were nominated by their respective National Sports Association’s but the commission fizzled out due to a lack of commitment and interest from the athletes.
1 comment:
As an ex-National athlete, I must say that this is a good move/idea but I don't think that many will come forward to speak out.
As we all know, those that speak out will be blacklisted by their Coach/es and/or Association.
I am very sure there are many atletes who have issues that they would like to voice out but they fear that they will be taken out from the National Squad/Team, being "side-lined" by the Coach or, worst, destroy their own carreer.
Our culture of "kena jaga hati" has been always the stubling block for improvement. Feedbacks are always viewed negatively/destructive. Comments are viewed as "with intention to break rice-bowl" and/or "want attention"
Unlike many developed Nations, feedbacks are always taken positively. They give thoughts/ideas for improvement.
In addtion, atheletes are usually busy with training and many prefer to spend their time training QUIETLY.
"Why open my mouth and get blacklisted? I will lose my allowances and etc if I am taken out from the National Squad/Team. Why "rock the boat"?"
npk@sovereign-tech.com
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