KUCHING: Every Malaysian athlete who competed in the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro deserves rewards, regardless of whether they bagged any medals or not.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang who asserted this yesterday, said those who took part in the Olympic Games were already the best sportspersons in the country and ought to be widely recognised.
“I hope the federal government, various state governments and private sector will offer incentives and rewards to every Malaysian Olympian in the 2016 Rio Games,” he said when declaring open the Bodhi Kindergarten annual sports day at Kenyalang Park Community Association’s hall here.
His text of speech was read out by former Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women’s chief and Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) councillor Tnay Li Ping.
Lo, who is also PMC chairman, opined that it was not easy especially for Malaysian athletes to qualify for the games held once every four years.
He said it would be fair only when every Olympian in the country received recognition even if they did not bring home any medals.
He also urged the government to upgrade and establish more sports-related facilities across the country to provide adequate training for young sportsmen and sportswomen.
Training in sports had to begin at a very young age particularly given that Malaysians lacked strong physiques compared to westerners and Africans, he pointed out.
More importantly, Lo said the country should focus more on training athletes for events such as badminton, diving and cycling. Notably, Malaysia won medals – 4 silvers and a bronze – in these events during the last Olympics.
Last Saturday, national diver Pandelela Rinong, who won a silver medal with her teammate Cheong Jun Hoong in the women’s synchronised 10m platform event, was rewarded with over RM1 million in incentives while the state aquatic centre was named after her.
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