Three cheers for the SEA Games volunteers

I refer to the letter “Volunteers just waiting for the Games to start” ( The Star, Aug 17).

It is heartwarming and gratifying to hear that the 13,000 volunteers selected out of 50,000 applicants are eagerly waiting to showcase Malaysian hospitality to the athletes, officials and spectators.

Volunteers are indeed the backbone of the Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games which will officially be declared open this Saturday.

They unselfishly sacrifice their time and contribute their energy to make the 29th edition of the SEA Games a spectacular show.

Their role is absolutely critical and crucial in making athletes, especially the foreigners, feel comfortable in Malaysia.

I have participated in no less than a dozen World Masters Athletics Championships and Games and more than 13 Asia Masters Athletics Championships across the globe over two decades.

The most impressive and outstanding volunteers I have ever encountered were those at the recent World Masters Athletics Championships Indoor Daegu 2017 where the majority comprised university students.

They went out of their way and walked the extra mile to make sure the athletes felt comfortable and at ease at all times, even to the extent of cleaning and keeping the toilets and changing rooms spick and span.

They welcomed the athletes with everready infectious smiles. It is my sincere hope that our Malaysian volunteers would be able to emulate their excellent exemplary services.

Sports has developed over the years here because of volunteers. Unfortunately, there is no rostrum finish and no medal of any colour awarded to the champion volunteer.

Three cheers for the volunteers! And hopefully our athletes will achieve their target of 111 gold medals and emerge champions!

THOMAS KOK Ipoh