Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 23, 2024: The President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Dr. Norza Zakaria, says he is “humbled and honored” to be the sole candidate for the post of OCA Vice President for Southeast Asia at the 44th OCA General Assembly in Delhi, India on Sunday, September 8.
Following the deadline for nominations from National Olympic Committees on July 21, the Olympic Council of Asia Election Committee announced a list of candidates for the Executive Board for the term 2024-2028 on July 22.
The OCM President was the sole candidate for OCA Vice President for Southeast Asia – and the OCM celebrated this achievement with a social media post.
“On Friday, July 12, 2024, the NOC Malaysia nominated its President, Dr. Norza Zakaria, for the position of OCA Vice President for the Southeast Asia zone,” the OCM stated.
“The nomination of Dr. Norza Zakaria was fully supported by 10 other member NOCs of the OCA in Southeast Asia zone, namely NOC Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. As a result, he emerged as the sole candidate nominated for this prestigious position.”
OCM pointed out that Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah, the fourth President of NOC Malaysia, IOC Member in Malaysia (1978-2004) and IOC Honorary Member (2004-2012), was elected as the first Vice President of the OCA (formerly known as Asian Games Federation) in the 1980s.
OCM President Dr. Norza said: “I am humbled and honored to be nominated as the sole candidate for the position of OCA Vice President for the Southeast Asia zone.
“I am equally proud to be the second person from Malaysia, after Tan Sri Hamzah, to be elected OCA Vice President after nearly four decades.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to fellow colleagues in the NOCs of Southeast Asia for their trust and confidence in me to lead the Olympic Movement in our zone. Let us continue to strive for excellence, enforce solidarity and uphold the spirit of the Olympic Movement in Southeast Asia” he added.
Dr. Norza Zakaria has been actively involved in the Olympic Movement within the OCA since 2019. He has served as a member of the OCA International Relations Committee (2019-2023), Chair of the OCA Sports for All Committee (2023) and a member of the OCA Coordination Committee for the 20th Asian Games (since 2023).