Latest news with #non-Olympic
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Pekan: Clear eligibility standard needed for proposed non-Olympic sports pension
KUALA LUMPUR: Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli made it clear he supports recent suggestions to introduce a pension scheme for multiple world champions from non-Olympic sports. Pekan said highly successful athletes from non-Olympic sports deserve to be recognised for their achievements. "I agree that multiple world champions from legitimate competitions deserve to get a pension," said Pekan when contacted today (June 8). "It is a form of recognition for their achievements. It is also a way to encourage more people to take up sports. "Otherwise people might say there is no point to do well in these sports as you don't get any benefits even as a world champion. "Their sport may not be in the Olympics but if they win four world titles, that is already the same duration as an Olympic cycle." Pekan, however, stressed that the scheme must be done the right way and thus there are many factors to be considered before it is rolled out. "I believe the sporting authorities should set a clear standard that can be referred to when determining who is eligible to receive the pension," said Pekan. "There are some sports which are governed by more than one world body and thus, there are more than one world championships for that sport. "We have to identify which world championships to recognise. Some world championships are easier to compete in than others as their field is weaker. "We also have to identify how many world titles an athlete needs to be eligible." Recently, six-time world champion bodybuilder Datuk Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah highlighted the need for there to be a pension scheme for multiple world champions in non-Olympic sports. Syarul suggested that a small amount of RM2,000 a month would suffice and would help athletes greatly in their old age once they are no longer able to work. "I agree (on amount) with Datuk Syarul, I believe we cannot set the pension standards to be the same as the Olympics," said Pekan. "This is because not all countries compete in these non-Olympic sports. "The Olympics remains the pinnacle for sports as almost all countries are trying to qualify for the games." Olympic gold, silver and bronze medallists receive a lifetime pension of RM5,000, RM3,000 and RM2,000 respectively via the National Sports Incentive Scheme. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has in recent years suggested setting up a trust fund to fund an expanded pension scheme for all Malaysian athletes. The scheme, however, has yet to get off the ground.
Powys County Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Host more events to inspire the next generation, says Neita
Daryll Neita has called for the UK to host more world-class sporting events to inspire the next generation. The European Athletics Championships come to the UK for the first time next summer with Alexander Stadium in Birmingham playing host. It will mark the first time that the UK has hosted a standalone major athletics championships since the 2017 World Championships in London, with Neita among more than 100 signatories of an open letter released this week calling for the showpiece event to return to the capital in 2029. Racing in front of a home crowd at Birmingham 2026 is an opportunity that Neita is relishing as she plays her part in trying to give athletics a spotlight in non-Olympic years. "I'm all for inspiring the next generation," she said. "I have an athletics community where I plan sports days and it's super important for me that young kids have the opportunity to be inspired by sport and see it live. "For people who watch us on television, to have the opportunity to come down and see us in person is brilliant. "That's what we need as a sporting country. We need this legacy of putting on top events more often." The past two London Athletics Meets have drawn in sell-out crowds and the 2025 event is no different, which Neita feels is part of a wider boom in interest. "This sport has been growing in the past few years and it's been great to be part of that evolution,' she added. "For so long there was this talk of athletics needing to be picked up and needing help to get more eyes on it, so it's great to see the amount of opportunities that are now coming through. "People are interested in it, we just need the exposure." View this post on Instagram A post shared by @birmingham2026 The Birmingham 2026 ticketing information and timetable has now been unveiled, with 250,000 tickets to go on sale in September, and prices starting from just £10 for adults. Neita won 100m European bronze at Munich 2022 before adding 200m silver to her name two years later in Rome. But even with two relays golds from the continental championships in 2018 and 2024, the sprinter is still eager for her first-ever individual major title and feels confident she will finally bring it home in Birmingham. "It feels to be like it's meant to be," she said. "I've done the bronze in the 100m and silver in the 200m, so the only other option is for me to win double gold. "That's how I see it and there's no better place to do it than at home. "That British cheer is definitely what can get me onto the podium again. "I've made an adjustment in terms of my training set up and the plan is that by next summer I will be raring and ready to go. I'm feeling really confident."
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Host more events to inspire the next generation, says Neita
It will mark the first time that the UK has hosted a standalone major athletics championships since the 2017 World Championships in London, with Neita among more than 100 signatories of an open letter released this week calling for the showpiece event to return to the capital in 2029. Racing in front of a home crowd at Birmingham 2026 is an opportunity that Neita is relishing as she plays her part in trying to give athletics a spotlight in non-Olympic years. "I'm all for inspiring the next generation," she said. "I have an athletics community where I plan sports days and it's super important for me that young kids have the opportunity to be inspired by sport and see it live. "For people who watch us on television, to have the opportunity to come down and see us in person is brilliant. "That's what we need as a sporting country. We need this legacy of putting on top events more often." The past two London Athletics Meets have drawn in sell-out crowds and the 2025 event is no different, which Neita feels is part of a wider boom in interest. "This sport has been growing in the past few years and it's been great to be part of that evolution,' she added. "For so long there was this talk of athletics needing to be picked up and needing help to get more eyes on it, so it's great to see the amount of opportunities that are now coming through. "People are interested in it, we just need the exposure." The Birmingham 2026 ticketing information and timetable has now been unveiled, with 250,000 tickets to go on sale in September, and prices starting from just £10 for adults. Neita won 100m European bronze at Munich 2022 before adding 200m silver to her name two years later in Rome. But even with two relays golds from the continental championships in 2018 and 2024, the sprinter is still eager for her first-ever individual major title and feels confident she will finally bring it home in Birmingham. "It feels to be like it's meant to be," she said. "I've done the bronze in the 100m and silver in the 200m, so the only other option is for me to win double gold. "That's how I see it and there's no better place to do it than at home. "That British cheer is definitely what can get me onto the podium again. "I've made an adjustment in terms of my training set up and the plan is that by next summer I will be raring and ready to go. I'm feeling really confident."
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Host more events to inspire the next generation, says Neita
It will mark the first time that the UK has hosted a standalone major athletics championships since the 2017 World Championships in London, with Neita among more than 100 signatories of an open letter released this week calling for the showpiece event to return to the capital in 2029. Racing in front of a home crowd at Birmingham 2026 is an opportunity that Neita is relishing as she plays her part in trying to give athletics a spotlight in non-Olympic years. "I'm all for inspiring the next generation," she said. "I have an athletics community where I plan sports days and it's super important for me that young kids have the opportunity to be inspired by sport and see it live. "For people who watch us on television, to have the opportunity to come down and see us in person is brilliant. "That's what we need as a sporting country. We need this legacy of putting on top events more often." The past two London Athletics Meets have drawn in sell-out crowds and the 2025 event is no different, which Neita feels is part of a wider boom in interest. "This sport has been growing in the past few years and it's been great to be part of that evolution,' she added. "For so long there was this talk of athletics needing to be picked up and needing help to get more eyes on it, so it's great to see the amount of opportunities that are now coming through. "People are interested in it, we just need the exposure." The Birmingham 2026 ticketing information and timetable has now been unveiled, with 250,000 tickets to go on sale in September, and prices starting from just £10 for adults. Neita won 100m European bronze at Munich 2022 before adding 200m silver to her name two years later in Rome. But even with two relays golds from the continental championships in 2018 and 2024, the sprinter is still eager for her first-ever individual major title and feels confident she will finally bring it home in Birmingham. "It feels to be like it's meant to be," she said. "I've done the bronze in the 100m and silver in the 200m, so the only other option is for me to win double gold. "That's how I see it and there's no better place to do it than at home. "That British cheer is definitely what can get me onto the podium again. "I've made an adjustment in terms of my training set up and the plan is that by next summer I will be raring and ready to go. I'm feeling really confident."
New Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Multiple world champions deserve pension scheme, says Syarul
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah has reiterated the need for there to be a pension scheme for retired multiple world champions in non-Olympic sports. Syarul, a six-time world championship winning bodybuilder, believes that athletes who have won two or more world championship titles in their respective sports should be entitled to receive such a pension. "I hope the Youth and Sports Ministry will consider providing a pension to such athletes from non-Olympic sports," said Syarul when met recently. "If an athlete wins a world title once, people can say he or she was lucky, or say that none of the big guns competed that year. "But if an athlete wins the world title two, three, four or five times, that is not luck. "I think a minimal pension amount of RM2,000 would be sufficient. There are also not that many athletes who have won multiple world titles in non-Olympic sports, we are not talking about a battalion here. "I believe this pension is very important. Athletes (once retired from competition) can coach or open an academy when they are still relatively young but what are they going to do once they reach an old age? They can't go on working forever. "I have spoken about this before but it fell on deaf ears." Besides Syarul himself, eight-time world champion Datuk Nicol David (squash) and four-time world champion Al Jufferi Jamari (pencak silat) are among those who would be eligible for the pension proposed by Syarul. Syarul believes athletes who excel at the highest level in non-Olympic sports deserve to be recognised just like their counterparts from Olympic sports. "I sympathise with athletes from non-Olympic sports," said Syarul. "Athletes from Olympic sports are taken care of like the golden child and have plenty of programmes for them. "But you have to remember that athletes from non-Olympic sports also win medals for the country consistently." Olympic gold, silver and bronze medallists receive a lifetime pension of RM5,000, RM3,000 and RM2,000 respectively via the National Athletes Incentive Scheme. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has in recent years suggested setting up a trust fund to fund an expanded pension scheme for all Malaysian athletes. The scheme, however, has yet to get off the ground.
