KUALA LUMPUR – The National Sports Council (NSC) and Allianz Malaysia Bhd have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today to support the national para-athlete programme until the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The three-year sponsorship agreement will be channelled to the para-athletes’ training and development ahead of the Games, scheduled from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
At the same time, the para-athletes will also be insured by Allianz Malaysia during their training sessions, competitions and travel.
NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail expressed his gratitude to the insurance company for its support to the national para-athletes.
“This is a big step for NSC and all the athletes. I am happy that Allianz Malaysia has chosen to work with our para-athletes as it is a field (where) Malaysia can excel on the international stage.
“Our para-athletes are world-class and are always gold medal prospects at the Paralympic Games. Allianz Malaysia’s contribution will go a long way in helping our para-athletes bring glory to the country, particularly in the run-up to Paris 2024.
“They (para-athletes) have proven themselves at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, so I won’t be surprised by their achievements at Paris 2024,” he said at the MoU signing ceremony today.
Malaysia won three gold medals at the Tokyo Paralympics last year. The medals came in powerlifting, badminton and athletics (long jump).
Meanwhile, Allianz Malaysia chief executive officer Sean Wang announced that the company has also introduced the Allianz MoveForward Programme, which is aimed at engaging both active and retired athletes and para-athletes as they move on to the next chapters of their lives.
“The programme includes mentorships and coaching sessions to help them improve their financial literacy and soft skills required for their future career development.
“The athletes can also participate in a referral programme that can serve as a source of passive income,” he said.
He added that if the partnership goes well, the agreement could be extended to 2028 as the deal stems from the partnership Allianz Malaysia established with the Worldwide Olympics Partner Programme in 2021, and prior to that with the Paralympic Movement, which began in 2006.
However, Shapawi also added that preparations for the upcoming Malaysia Games (Sukma) are on track.
“We have been preparing to provide the athletes with the best competitive environment for the Games.
“Sukma was postponed in 2020 due to Covid-19, so it is crucial to have it now and make sure no generation gap occurs in our athletes development,” he added.
This year’s Sukma will begin on Friday (September 16), in conjunction with Malaysia Day, and ends on September 24. – The Vibes, September 13, 2022
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