SPORTCHECK: Category B Sea Games athletes already paid

THE Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has reimbursed all associations whose athletes had won medals at the 2007 Korat Sea Games under Category B. Category B athletes paid their own way to Korat and those who won gold or silver were fully reimbursed, while bronze medallists were paid half their expenses.

On Sunday, Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) and Amateur Swimming Association of Malaysia (ASUM) president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim claimed that he was still owed RM60,000 by OCM for expenses he incurred in sending athletes from athletics, aquatics and petanque to Korat.

But OCM countered that ASUM had claimed its monies last April while MAAU has yet to collect a cheque awaiting it at Wisma OCM.

"For the Korat Sea Games, nine from athletics, eight from swimming and 13 from petanque, competed under Category B, which means their expenses were borne by their respective national sports associations," the statement said.
"Of the eight swimmers, two won gold medals and two were bronze medallists. A sum of RM7,990 was refunded to ASUM on April 9, 2008.

"Of the nine from athletics, only two claimed bronze medals and as such 50 per cent of their expenses will be reimbursed. A sum of RM2,122 is due and is awaiting collection by MAAU.

"None of the 13 petanque athletes won any medals which means there will and as such no reimbursement was due to the Malaysian Petanque Federation."

NST