UM’s role in sports and SEA Games
SPORTS has been documented throughout the history of many ancient cultures and societies. In addition to physical freedom that sports activities offer, there are also psychological benefits derived from the same activities.
For example, the philosophy behind the modern Olympic movement of today is centred on three core values – excellence, friendship and respect.
These core values underlie every action and activity of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and guide all affiliates of the IOC and the National Olympic Councils (NOCs) across the globe. Such values are also utilised within the Asean structure. The region’s most prestigious bi-annual multi-sports event, the SEA Games, held its 29th Edition in Kuala Lumpur after 16 years. The games which ended on Wednesday saw Malaysia taking the top spot. As a Kuala Lumpur native, Universiti Malaya (UM) is right in the heart of all the sports action.
For the record, UM is the first university in Asean to have offered the Bachelor of Sports Science Academic Programme in three specialised areas, including sports management back in 1995 through its Sports Centre.
This programme was aimed at producing sports scientists and managers.
It was seen as drastic at that time but was indeed a far-sightedg decision.
This pave d the way for other local public and private universities, including Universiti Te eknologi Mara (UiTM) and Universiti Te eknologi Malaysia (UTM) to also offer sp port-related degree programmes to the Malaysian population. Now, fast for rward 22 years and we are see- ing graduates of the programme as young sports policy-makers at the Youth and Sports Ministry.
Some of them are directly involved in decision-making positions at the Malaysian Organising Committee (Masoc) at various levels of management.
In the games, UM through the Sports Centre and UM Arena were selected to be the official training grounds for all 11 competing nations of the games for netball. The same grounds were also used by Vietnam’s male and female football teams.
Prior to the recent games, UM was the training ground for the national badminton and netball teams.
The UM Arena was also the match venue for seven matches (both male and female events) as well as training venues for 16 sessions for the games.
The UM Arena has a dedicated and highly-skilled team of 13 staff. For the SEA games, they were assisted by 10 technical volunteers.
They together with Sport Manager Jasrim Jaafar, worked tirelessly and deserve a pat on the back.
Dr Sumiani Yusoff, Dean of the Sustainability Research Cluster from UM was as one of four co-ordinators from the local universities. She was involved in ensuring that many green initiatives were undertaken at the games. This is an unprecedentedp move on the part of the organising committee. It is to reflect the need to care for the environment as a common
and shared value in the Asean community.
The varsity also had 28 student athletes from various faculties, competing in 11 sports events under the Malaysian flag. UM is proud of these athletes. They have struck the right balance in both sports and studies.
They are indeed model students and citizens. In the spectacular opening ceremony of the games, three alumni and two students of UM did us proud as flag and torch bearers.
All are from the Sports Centre and four of them are from the Sports Management Programme and one from the Exercise Science Programme.
They are students Nauraj Singh Randhawa, Pandalela Rinong, and alumni Bryan Nickson Lomas, Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi and Shalin Zulkifli. Congratulations to all of them.
Finally, UM volunteers – 270 students and 33 employees – should be commended for their dedication and commitment. They were part of the 10,000 volunteers who worked around-theclock for the games. They will also be helping out at the Ninth Asean Para Games that will take place later this month.
Without a doubt, we are rising together and raising the game for Malaysia. Malaysia Boleh!
WIRDATI MOHD RADZI Sport Management Researcher and Deputy Dean, Humanities Research Cluster, Universiti Malaya