KUALA LUMPUR – Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria has unveiled plans for a strategic collaboration aimed at maximising Malaysian success on the international sporting stage.
He said OCM is set to join forces with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) to advocate for the inclusion of sports in which Malaysian athletes excel.
Norza added that the AINAGOC has proposed a total of 41 sports, 58 disciplines, and 400 events to be competed for the approval of the OCA.
“The games will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, at the Nagoya City and Aichi Prefecture, in Japan.
“OCM will work with OCA and the organising committee to propose the inclusion of sports that Malaysian athletes excel in to ensure we can win the maximum amount of medals at the games,” Norza told reporters at a press conference after the 208th OCM Executive Council meeting at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) here today.
At the same time, Norza said that OCM will host the Olympic Solidarity/OCA Regional Forum for East and Southeast Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in Kuala Lumpur in May.
“The Regional Forum, scheduled on May 3 and 4 will be attended by approximately 100 delegates, comprising representatives from the International Olympic Committee, OCA, eight East Asian NOCs, 11 Southeast Asian NOCs and two Asian Games organising committees namely the 6th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games Bangkok-Chonburi 2021 and 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025.
“OCM’s role includes coordination with the official hotel, setting up for the meeting, facilitating the entry visa application for certain nationalities, logistics as well as hosting a welcome reception for all delegates,” said Norza.
Meanwhile, former world champion diver Cheong Jun Hoong has been selected to participate in the Empowering Youth Capacity Building Internship Programme for 2024, organised by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
This programme offers a year-long placement opportunity within the Commonwealth Games Associations of Malaysia from February 2024 to January 2025.
In other developments, Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry has confirmed the official dates for the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, co-hosted by Bangkok and Chonburi, scheduled to take place from November 21 to 30.
The forthcoming Chef de Mission Seminar slated for March 4 to 5 in Bangkok will serve as a crucial preparatory platform for participating delegations, with the OCM represented by chef de mission Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Tan Sri Omardin, who is also Malaysian National Silat Federation president, and Izzat Danial Su Azlan Su as key OCM staff member.
Also, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Harbin Asian Winter Games Organising Committee have confirmed the revised dates for the 9th Asian Winter Games, to be hosted in Harbin, China from February 7 to 14, 2025. – February 24, 2024