KUALA LUMPUR – The Youth and Sports ministry has just announced that the Podium Programme will continue until 2025 with a monetary allocation of RM240 million.
This allocation is to facilitate national athletes in their preparation for international sporting events, such as the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games.
However, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the budget will also be used to help athletes prepare for this year’s SEA Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
The Podium Programme, which was initiated in 2016, had an allocation of RM380 million for sports development over a period of five years.
Faizal also announced that Kuala Lumpur would be hosting the 2022 Sukma Games after original host Johor requested for a withdrawal.
Last October, the Sukma Supreme Committee decided that the 2022 Sukma Games in Johor − scheduled to take place from April 2-10 − would be postponed to 2024 before relenting and awarding hosting duties to the National Sports Council to organise the 2022 Sukma and Para Sukma Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Faizal said both the Games will be organised in a sports bubble format.
“Both Games will take place separately to avoid overcrowding of athletes and officials in light of the current Covid-19 surge.
“Based on the sports bubble format, we would have more control over athletes and officials and, at the same time, comply with the SOP’s (standard operating procedures) set by the National Security Council,” he said.
Faizal explained that the Sukma Games needs to be held consistently so that athletes will be able to test their fitness levels and skills before embarking on higher-level international sporting events.
Besides preparing athletes for the international stage, the Games also help strengthen the role of the respective sports associations as well as the sport’s personnel and technical development in all stages. – The Vibes, February 23, 2022
