KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 111 representatives from 19 National Olympic Committees (NOC) in Southeast Asia and East Asia will attend the third stage of the Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) Development Programme for Coaches and Referees, here. OCA’s Director of Development and NOC Relations Wissam Trkmani stated that the five-day camp beginning Monday involves archery, badminton, table tennis, and swimming.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wissam explained that the OCA felt the development programme presents an ideal opportunity to brief the coaches and referees on some key issues in the Olympic movement. He highlighted that participants will engage in both practical and theoretical sessions, which include presentations from experts in fields that are becoming increasingly important in the modern-day Olympic movement.
These sessions will cover Olympic values, safeguarding, prevention of competition manipulation, and anti-doping. ‘The aim is that they will return to their home country and put into practice what
they have learned here for the betterment of their sport and their athletes in all aspects,’ Wissam expressed.
Wissam also mentioned that OCA was pleased to conduct the final stage in Malaysia, following the first stage for the West Asia zone in Kuwait and the second stage in Uzbekistan for Central and South Asia. He noted that Malaysia was chosen as the host due to the availability of well-prepared and complete facilities, which facilitate the smooth running of the programme.
He further revealed that when they approached Olympic Council of Malaysia President Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, he fully supported the initiative and provided immediate approval.