RM490 million Malaysian sports training centre in London. Forward thinking or utter waste of money?
The government will go ahead and build the estimated RM490 million sports training centre in London. The centre will be built on Malaysian government land in Brickendonbury, 24km from the proposed site of the 2012 London Olympics Village, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said told the Dewan Rakyat today.
When I first read this report I was a little confused. I mean how many world-class sportspersons do we have that mandates a permanent training centre in London? What are the overriding benefits of such an exorbitantly expensive venture?
Azalina said the centre would be used to train Malaysian national athletes and it would also facilitate sports technology transfer to Malaysia. The training centre would not only enable Malaysian athletes acclimatise themselves to cold weather but also fulfil the national strategy(?) of being closer to a country that was more developed in the field of sports. Azalina, however, said the actual cost of the proposed centre in London had yet to be finalised. She was confident that the centre would be a worthwhile investment for Malaysia as it could help the country produce world-class athletes.
Again the question arises whether it is so necessary that in order for athletes to be trained overseas there has to a centre there? Building a sports centre is one thing but to staff and maintain it is going to cost ten of millions more. At a time of national stringency when fuel and electricity hikes have taken their deep bites and the government admittedly can't 'afford' any more subsidies, is sinking almost half a billion bucks on a questionable project like this a good idea?
Does the acclimatisation phase require such an ostentatious multi-million ringgit surrounding and can't sports related 'technology transfers' be effected from Malaysia? As for this 'national strategy of being closer to a country that was more developed in the field of sports' pray tell me the great advantages of that country being the UK?
Are all these reasons mere hocus-pocus attempting to justify an underlying profit-motivated venture? Is this another sandiwara, a prelude to enrich a few more government-favoured cronies? Whatever may be the argument in favour of such a centre, it is best that every inch of the plan is scrutinized very, very carefully and if there be even the slightest doubt, bring in the ACA for what they are worth.
When I first read this report I was a little confused. I mean how many world-class sportspersons do we have that mandates a permanent training centre in London? What are the overriding benefits of such an exorbitantly expensive venture?
Azalina said the centre would be used to train Malaysian national athletes and it would also facilitate sports technology transfer to Malaysia. The training centre would not only enable Malaysian athletes acclimatise themselves to cold weather but also fulfil the national strategy(?) of being closer to a country that was more developed in the field of sports. Azalina, however, said the actual cost of the proposed centre in London had yet to be finalised. She was confident that the centre would be a worthwhile investment for Malaysia as it could help the country produce world-class athletes.
Again the question arises whether it is so necessary that in order for athletes to be trained overseas there has to a centre there? Building a sports centre is one thing but to staff and maintain it is going to cost ten of millions more. At a time of national stringency when fuel and electricity hikes have taken their deep bites and the government admittedly can't 'afford' any more subsidies, is sinking almost half a billion bucks on a questionable project like this a good idea?
Does the acclimatisation phase require such an ostentatious multi-million ringgit surrounding and can't sports related 'technology transfers' be effected from Malaysia? As for this 'national strategy of being closer to a country that was more developed in the field of sports' pray tell me the great advantages of that country being the UK?
Are all these reasons mere hocus-pocus attempting to justify an underlying profit-motivated venture? Is this another sandiwara, a prelude to enrich a few more government-favoured cronies? Whatever may be the argument in favour of such a centre, it is best that every inch of the plan is scrutinized very, very carefully and if there be even the slightest doubt, bring in the ACA for what they are worth.
posted by The Malaysian. at 7/11/2006 03:20:00 PM
8 Comments:
i believe in talent, no amount of training can score you talent, and in this case, no amount of international training can bring one talent...
if there is no talent why waste money on something like this?
if one has the talent, then all he needs is some spotting only ...
u have forgotten who we are ! we're Malaysians and BECAUSE WE CAN !
YAY ! malaysia boleh.
RM 490 million if offered to 11 people in malaysia, i am sure they have the sudden talents to win world cup.
or RM 490 given to any sports in malaysia, i am sure the world will know his/her name shines
Hahahahahahahaha....funny!
you put one centre in all the countries also we cant win one olympic medal in sports like athletics or soccer. Wasting money lah!
This
This project will not improve the performance of our atheletes. But officials will have their annual government paid holidays in England and Europe, with their families.
Why can't we demand that they scrap such ridiculous and selfish ideas?
such a waste la!!!! with living cost so high n govt say cant afford 4 subsidies...but wanna waste RM490 million 4 nothing!!!!
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