Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Wednesday made a very public show of support for the national athletes competing in the Olympics and Paralympics in London this summer, assuring them that the whole country was behind their efforts.
“Whenever the Malaysian athletes step into the arena, they know that all Malaysians are behind them,” he said delivering his message to the team.
Najib said sports played an important part of the national agenda and the Government had long championed its benefits in the efforts towards nation building.
“Success in the sporting field is not assessed in terms of the per capita income alone, but also in terms of the people’s feelings,” he said.
And he’s not wrong – just look at the number of EPL shirts being worn in the country on match day.
On Monday, the deadline for Olympic qualification, a total of 30 Malaysian athletes had been confirmed for the London meet across eight events, namely aquatics, badminton, cycling, fencing, archery, shooting, yachting and athletics.
Meanwhile, 23 paralympic athletes were also guaranteed their place in London after the main games, competing in cycling, archery, yachting, table tennis, powerlifting, swimming and athletics.
Earlier in the week, Datuk Lee Chong Wei urged his badminton team mates to focus not on winning gold bars, but gold medals – stressing that the incentives some at home were offering should not be seen as intimidating.
“Incentives will automatically come when we succeed at international level and that can become an inspiration to win. To me, preparing for the Olympics is more important now than to think about incentives,” he added.
It comes after a businessman told the country’s Olympic badminton team that if they can bring home the Gold Medal in London they will receive a gold bar worth RM2 million.
Malaysia shuttlers have never brought won gold at the Olympic Games despite some close calls, previously earning two bronze and two silver medals.
But it’s a tradition that this year’s squad is hoping to change.
And mining magnate Andrew Kam, executive of Peninsular Mining has provided an added incentive to the team.
Of course it helps that he’s a badminton enthusiast and chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Racquet Club Berhad.
Kam added the prize on top of the Government, which has already offered another one million for a gold. A similarly high sum has also been pledged by a local furniture company.
“KLRC would like to play a part in helping this dream become a reality – and that is to capture the elusive gold medal which our country has yet to achieve,” Kam said in a statement.
“I would like to throw a challenge to our Malaysian badminton team: If any of you brings home a gold medal from London 2012, there is a 2 million ringgit gold bar waiting for you here. Gold for gold!”
Olympic Council of Malaysia secretary Sieh Kok Chi didn’t believe the private financial incentives added any more pressure on the Malaysian team.
“Most of them are seasoned campaigners,” he said. “I believe they will not compete for money but they will do it for the pride of the country.”
And rightly so. But whether it’s hung around their neck, or in their pockets, The Choice will be cheering them on.