Paralympics - 'Give Car As Reward' To Only Deserving Athletes – MPC President

From AMIRIL MUTTAQIEN MEKETAR

PARIS, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin suggested that private companies that wished to reward athletes who excelled in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, offer such incentives to only the best. 

“If a sponsor wished to give a car to them, you should give to the champion who brings back a gold medal for the country because if you want your brand to be  number one you have to give it to the athlete who wins a gold.

“If it is given to winners of other medals, it’s up to them. For me, if I own the brand I want the athletes to bring back gold,” he said during a press conference, here today.

Megat D Shahriman said the proposal was to ensure that Para athletes are given the same level of incentives or rewards that is given to normal athletes.

He added that 24 participants who will be taking part in the official opening ceremony (parade) of the 2024 Paralympic Games tonight will be wearing the same official dress worn by the national contingent during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in July.

Parading the official attire designed by local designer Rizman Ruzaini, female athletes will be wearing a baju kurung songket with a veil while the male athletes will be wearing the Teluk Belanga Melayu.

For the first time in the history of the Paralympic Games, the opening ceremony is being held outside the stadium and athletes will walk through the iconic location from Champ-Elysees to Place de la Concorde.

Meanwhile, the Chef-de-Mission of the Malaysian contingent for the 2024 Paralympic Games, Datuk R Subramaniam said that so far there have been no problems involving the national contingent in Paris.

Based on reports from each sports manager, all 30 national athletes are also ready and rearing to take on the challenge and duties to bring honour to the country throughout their participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games which officially starts today and ends on Sept 8.

-- BERNAMA