Tuesday, 7 July 2009

Malaysia May Be Fined For Pulling Out Of AYG - OCM

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia may be fined by the organisers of the Asian Youth Games (AYG) in Singapore, for pulling out at the eleventh hour, due to fears of the Influenza A(H1N1) outbreak.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said the organisers have yet to decide on imposing fine or action against Malaysia which was the only country that pulled out from the Games participated by 40 countries.

"There is a possibility that the organisers may impose a small fine because they had already made arrangements for the Malaysian contingent's accommodation," he told reporters after accepting a sponsorship deal from a Chinese apparel company, 361 degree (China) Co. Ltd, which will sponsor attires to the Malaysian contingent for the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games in China.

However, Kok Chi hoped the organisers would not retort to such action (fine) because of the good relationship between the two countries.

Through the sponsorship deal, the company would supply 800 pairs of attire for the Malaysian contingent to Guangzhou.

The OCM and National Sports Council (NSC) are believed to have spent about RM120,000 for the Malaysian contingent's accommodation, equipment and attire before withdrawing from the Games due to a directive from the Education Ministry.

The Malaysian contingent, comprising mainly of students from the Bukit Jalil Sports School and a number of other schools, were forced to withdraw following a directive from the Education Ministry that barred all students from competing abroad, due to the Influenza A(H1N1) outbreak.

-- BERNAMA

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