KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will not join the bandwagon and boycott the 2024 Paris Olympics despite calls from several countries threatening to skip the biggest multi-sports event due to the International Olympics Council’s (IOC) decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete.
While IOC has allowed the participation of athletes from both these countries, they must compete under a neutral flag.
Some 40 countries have been reported to condemn the IOC’s decision and are looking to boycott next year’s competition, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ukraine, as well as host country France.
The last time Malaysia skipped the Olympic Games was in 1980 when it was held in Moscow, Russia (formerly known as the Soviet Union). Together with 66 countries, Malaysia boycotted the games entirely because of the Soviet-Afghan war.
The downside of boycotting the Moscow Games was Malaysia’s national football team, captained by Datuk Soh Chin Ann, missing out on the football event after qualifying by beating South Korea in the playoffs at the Merdeka stadium.
Would Malaysia repeat its 1980 Moscow Games decision?
According to a source in the sports fraternity, Malaysia will take this as an opportunity to win its elusive gold medal, with many countries now threatening to skip the Games.
“Athletes have been preparing for Paris for the last two years, and it will not be fair if Malaysia boycotts because a lot of effort and money will go to waste.
“At the same time, this will be the last Olympics for some senior athletes.
“We should differentiate sports and politics. Furthermore, it will give Malaysia a better chance to win the elusive gold medal.
The source who wished for anonymity said national cyclist Datuk Azizulhasni Awang would be the favourite to win the gold medal in Paris because his tough competition comes from Europe, citing that European countries are the ones threatening to pull out.
Azizulhasni, who won the Olympics bronze and silver medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, respectively, has one final opportunity to win the gold medal as this will be his last participation in the Games.
“Our badminton players and the diving team would also stand a chance to win medals in Paris. So, why would we want to waste such an opportunity?
“But it is up to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) to make a decision on this matter. OCM will need to consult with the government and then decide,” the source added.
It is understood that this matter will be part of the discussion today in the Road To Gold when Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh meets OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.
Earlier, Yeoh said Malaysia has yet to take a stance on the matter but assured that it would be decided after her formal meeting with Norza and OCM committee members. – The Vibes, April 6, 2023
