THE sporting fraternity has received the government’s nod to start training again, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The senior minister said 265 individuals, including 57 athletes, will get to prepare for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, next year.

He said the training sessions will be held at three camps.

“They are at Bukit Jalil Sports Complex, involving 181 individuals; Badminton Academy of Malaysia in Bukit Kiara (56); and, National Boat Training Centre in Langkawi (28),” he told a daily press conference on coronavirus-related security matters in Putrajaya today.

He said all 265 people will be screened for Covid-19 regularly at the camps.

“The centralised training camps will conduct sessions from June 1 to 30. The first phase of Covid-19 screening will take place during registration.

“The Youth and Sports Ministry will use the quarantine-based approach for 30 days – twice the (virus) incubation period (of two weeks).”

He said no one is allowed to leave the camps before the training period ends.

“Training is crucial because they are representing Malaysia (at the Tokyo Games).

“A monitoring committee chaired by Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican (Naina Merican) will ensure the training programme is conducted in compliance with the standard operating procedure.

“They cannot leave the (camps) for the duration of the training period. They will also be tested again when training is over.”

Social distancing is among the measures that athletes must adhere to, he said.

“For badminton, there is social distancing from court to court, and the ministry will monitor this.” – May 19, 2020.