Skip to main content

Sportcheck:Sports development benefits economy of nation

NO effort must be spared to develop sports as it is an industry by itself which contributes to the economy as well as provide jobs for Malaysians.

The Sports Ministry, the Domestic Trade and Industries Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) should spearhead the move, which should start with the establishment of a blueprint.

Malaysian Association for Physical Education, Sports Science and Fitness (MAPESSF) president, Professor Datuk Dr Leonard A de Vries said this was first discussed 10 years ago.

"A working paper entitled Economic impact of sports in Malaysia was approved by the Sports Ministry 10 years ago. However, this has yet to be implemented," said de Vries.

However, for sports to succeed, there has to first be a sports culture.
"This can be achieved through seminars to create awareness. It is also very important to ensure the infrastructure and facilities are adequate. Also, if the sports industry is to expand, then there must be more emphasis given to sports for all and less to high performance sports from the government and private sector," he said.

He said the manufacturing sector of sports, fitness and recreation should be studied and developed in Malaysia which would improve made-in-Malaysia products which could then compete in foreign markets.

Sports tourism is another major sports industry.

"The Tourism Ministry, with the cooperation of the Sports Ministry, Olympic Council of Malaysia and MAPESSF, should establish a Sports Tourism Administrative Unit for the growth of sports tourism.

"Malaysia should position outdoor recreation in our natural environment as our niche market. A study to develop the outdoor recreation industry by mapping locations for walking, cycling, hiking, climbing and camping sites, including sites for water sports, fitness, health, martial arts and X-games must also be conducted."

De Vries said government linked companies (GLCs) must play a bigger role in promoting sports as in time, the returns will be there.

"A corporate approach to sports development will bring positive changes to the way sports are managed and developed."

De Vries added that existing duties and excise on sports goods should be reduced as it would encourage greater participation in sports and contribute to the development of a sports culture.

NST

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ex-coach's jail sentence cut to a year

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...
2 comments
Read more

Govt Always Gives Emphasis To Sporting Culture, Says PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,...
1 comment
Read more

Indonesia Choose Komodo Dragon As SEA Games Mascot

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Host for the 26th SEA Games, Indonesia has chosen the Komodo dragon as mascot for the 2011 Games which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang from Nov 11 to 25. The Indonesia SEA Games Organizing Committee (Inasoc), was qouted by Jakarta Post as saying that a pair of Komodo dragons, a male (Modo) and a female (Modi), were chosen in recognition of the Republic's conservation efforts to protect the dwindling number of the rare lizard. Modo and Modi were unveiled last night at a function in Jakarta, to mark the 200-day countdown before the games open on Nov 11 in Palembang. The Komodo dragons, the largest lizard in the world, only live on the Indonesian islands of Komodo in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. On Jan 15, Inasoc unveiled its logo, a Garuda eagle, to symbolize the power and grandeur of Indonesia. Indonesia dominated the Games between 1977, when it first competed, and 1997, failing to top the medal charts only twice in that p...
1 comment
Read more