KL should bid for 2032 Olympics
IREFER to the article about the polemics over our country’s readiness to bid for the Olympics “KL Olympics – Is it just a pipe dream?” ( Sunday Star, Sept 22).
I feel that Kuala Lumpur, a metropolitan multiracial and multicultural city, should bid to host the most prestigious multisports event in the near future.
It is not an illusion as Martin Luther King’s famous saying “I have a dream” should inspire us to seriously work towards hosting the Olympic Games, which would bring many benefits to our nation.
Though the next earliest date for another Asian country to host the Games is probably almost two decades away, it is important for our sporting nation to plan and prepare meticulously now to make a successful bid.
The competition to host the Olympics is indeed an extremely challenging and daunting task.
A good number of cities across the globe continually bid to host the Olympics. Turkey, though it bid unsuccessfully for the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2020 Games, has still not given up hope.
Cities from around the world compete aggressively to host the Olympic Games because of the enormous benefits the events bring to the host country. The Olympics always attract global media attention and sponsorships from multinational companies.
Events associated with the Olympiads have become a great source of business. The events provide a catalyst to attract lots of private investments, particularly in tourism and sports-related businesses. Thus the financial benefits are in billions of ringgit if properly and efficiently organised.
Our track record of successfully hosting the Commonwealth Games 15 years ago (in 1998) speaks volumes of our technical capabilities and expertise to organise the Olympics Games, 12 years after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Of course, we can’t pride ourselves of any potential Olympic gold medallists among our existing national athletes. But about two decades from now, I believe we can expect some Olympic medals in badminton, diving, cycling, archery, shooting and squash, which I predict will be included in the Olympics then.
To achieve this objective, all sports associations with the assistance of the Sports Ministry and National Sports Council must start training our youngsters to be world class athletes.
The younger generation will benefit from the post-Olympic tangible and intangible outcomes. For instance, after the London Olympics, the British population in general embraced the sports culture and their youths in particular have developed a love for sports and are making full use of the sports facilities left behind.
What we need is a very strong commitment from the government and Kuala Lumpur city folks.
The Sports Minister must lead the charge and put a lot of effort to encourage Malaysians of diverse races, religions and creed to participate in sports, and to make all sport facilities available for public use.
The Education Ministry must emphasise the importance of sports for students and seriously implement the 1-student 1-sport policy.
School principals and teachers ought to give their fullest cooperation to promote, encourage and support the development of sports in schools.
The government and KL folks must have faith that we Malaysians can organise the 2032 Kuala Lumpur Olympic Games with the cooperation of all stakeholders.
Malaysia Boleh! THOMAS KOK Ipoh