KUALA LUMPUR – Organised for the first time, the Asian Diving Youth Camp will not only focus on the technical aspects of the sport, but also on educating young divers and promoting the development of diving at the youth level throughout Asia.
Speaking during the camp’s opening ceremony today, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) head of athletes development and special projects Tony Tarraf said participants, aged 14 and below, will learn Olympic values and lessons on anti-doping.
“Sports is not only about winning medals but also to enjoy fair competition.
“It is a good opportunity for participants to join a high-level training camp at a young age,” he said.
Funded by the OCA in collaboration with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and Malaysian Swimming (MS), the camp will be held in Kuala Lumpur from August 15 to 21 for the first time since the swimming camp in Doha in 2019.
Over 30 divers from 15 Asian countries will be involved in the week-long programme alongside their respective coaches.
Tarraf said the camp will also help coaches enhance their coaching methods and ability to identify and develop young divers.
“This is the starting point of development for the coaches in Asia, we want them to gain experience here and bring back the knowledge to their home countries.”
He added that there will be a course for judges on the final three days of the camp who will see participants put their knowledge to the test in a small competition towards the closing days.
Meanwhile, OCM vice-president Datuk Mumtaz Jaffar said the camp will help young divers learn valuable knowledge.
“We have been waiting for the higher authorities (OCA) to organise something like this. OCM is glad to be hosting the first Asian Diving Youth Camp,” she said.
At the same time, MS secretary-general Mae Chan said the camp serves as a great opportunity for aspiring divers.
“They (participants) are willing to learn, and that is important. We want to take this opportunity to share knowledge with each other,” she said. – The Vibes, August 15, 2022.
