As ready as they can be
Commonwealth Games athletes amply supported
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 178 Malaysian athletes comprising 102 men and 76 women will be featuring in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, from April 415.
But surprisingly a total of 96 officials comprising 71 men and 25 women will be going for the Games too. That means, it is a ratio of two athletes per official.
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary Datuk Low Beng Choo said the officials consist of a support team of medical staff, masseuses and physiotherapists.
“The organisers will provide the services but we may not get the type of service we need. Furthermore, we have to queue up with athletes from 70 other countries,” said Beng Choo.
“We cannot bring just one masseuse as we have 178 athletes competing in the Games
“NSI (National Sports Science) have been very generous to send more masseuses,” said Beng Choo.
OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar said they
We don’t like to set targets as this will put unnecessary pressure on the sports associations and also the athletes. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar
have not set any target for the Commonwealth Games.
“We don’t like to set targets as this will put unnecessary pressure on the sports associations and also the athletes.
“The standard of the Games is higher compared to the Asian Games and countries such as England, Australia, Canada and South Africa have world class athletes.
“So it will be tough for our athletes. It will be a learning process for the young ones. And winning a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games is considered better than winning the SEA Games gold medal,” said Tunku Imran.
Tunku Imran said the flaghanding over ceremony for the Malaysian contingent will be on March 27 and they will also name the flagbearer for the Games on the same day.
Tunku Imran thanked Bata Primavera for sponsoring RM60,000 worth of leather and sports shoes for the Malaysian contingent for the Commonwealth Games.
Bata Primavera country manager Ajay Ramachandran said they have been sponsoring shoes for the Malaysian contingent since 2001 and they wish all the best to the Malaysian athletes and officials for the Games.
A total of 275 events involving 18 sports will take place in Gold Coast.
At the last Games in Glasgow in 2014, Malaysia won six golds, seven silvers and six bronzes.