Let’s give a warm welcome to KL2017 contingents — Tunku Imran

KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia ( OCM) has called on Malaysians to give a warm welcome to contingents participating in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games ( KL2017).

Its president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar said the KL2017’s spirit of ‘ Rising Together’ should be taken to heart in upholding friendship and sportsmanship.

“Let’s warmly welcome all the participants of the SEA Games although they are big rivals. I hope Malaysians don’t get into the habit of booing people like what happened with Justin Gatlin at the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London,” he told reporters.

He had earlier chaired the 183rd OCM Executive Council Meeting here yesterday.

Tunku Imran also al luded to the “teaching them a thing or two” remark attributed to Singaporean Olympic medallist Joseph Schooling.

He said he met Schooling in Singapore recent ly and had nothing but good things to say about the 22-year- old swimmer whose mother is Malaysian.

“There’s nothing arrogant about the guy. He’s a very nice and exuberant young man. Let‘s all give him a very good reception because he deserves a warm welcome,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tunku Imran said instead of focusing on the gold medal haul in KL2017, OCM was more concerned about Malaysia’s total medal count.

With a cont ingent of 8 4 4 athletes, he said he was happy that Malaysia would participate in almost all the disciplines listed for KL2017.

“The selection committee said that every athlete has the credibility to compete. It’s a very good total and we will be very competitive,” he said.

The 29th edition of the SEA Games runs from Aug 19 to 30, with 404 sporting events across 38 sports.

Malaysian athletes will feature in 398 events. — Bernama