Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 20, 2020: The Olympic Council of Malaysia is grateful for the approval granted by the National Security Council and the Ministry of Health for 265 “Road to Tokyo” athletes to resume training in three different locations - the Bukit Jalil Sports City, the National Badminton Academy in Bukit Kiara and the National Sailing Training Centre in Langkawi - from June 1 to June 30, 2020.
In a statement issued on May 19, the OCM said:
“On behalf of the athletes and National Sports Associations who are preparing for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the OCM would also like to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports for taking the initiative and continuously engaging with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the interest of our athletes and officials are protected.
“As the international calendar and chase for Olympic spots resume, the return to training will allow our athletes sufficient time and opportunity to regain their pre-Covid-19 level, if not better.
“Nonetheless, the health and well-being of our athletes and officials remain our priority, and the safe return to training is a step-by-step process. The approved SOP (standard operating procedure) allows our athletes and officials to return to training in the safest environment possible.
“The OCM will continue to consult with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Associations, athletes and officials as we further monitor the current protocols and fine-tune the SOP for ‘normal’ training to resume.
In other news from Malaysia:
*The OCM Executive Board held its 19th meeting for the term 2018-2021 on May 12 via videoconference.
The meeting, chaired by the OCM President, Dato’ Sri Norza Zakaria, received updates from its various committees, including events which were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the impact on National Sports Associations and the OCM.
It was also decided to review the OCM Constitution and re-evaluate selection criteria following the 30th SEA Games 2019.