YOUTH and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said not all athletes who qualify for the Olympic Games would join the Road to Gold (RTG) programme.

Yeoh said while all athletes get support from the National Sports Council (NSC) and National Sports Institute (NSI) via the Podium programme, those in RTG must be ranked among the top 10 in the world or have good prospects to win gold.

“In RTG, they (athletes) have basic support from Podium, which we give to all who have qualified for the Olympics.

“But for RTG we look into providing top-up services, which can strengthen athletes’ chances to win gold,” she told a press conference after the National Youth Consultative Council meeting at the International Youth Centre in Cheras today.

Yeoh said her ministry was open to meeting any athlete who qualified for the Olympics, including road cyclist Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir.

“Our doors are always open and sports associations know they have access to NSC. It is difficult for me to respond each time an athlete qualifies for the Olympics as the qualification process is ongoing. But we try our best to meet them,” she said.

Nur Aisyah today became the country’s first female road racer to qualify for the Olympics after the Malaysian National Cycling Federation awarded her a Paris 2024 slot based on her ranking and consistent performance.

Yeoh also said providing Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso) contributions is the most basic aid for Podium athletes.

“The NSC director-general is working out details with EPF and Socso. An engagement session was held yesterday and I believe we are committed to implementing this protection beginning next January,” she said.

Yeoh said her ministry and NSC were reviewing the salary scheme for national coaches, including to draw Malaysian coaches serving overseas to return.

“I believe they will prioritise their own country if the scheme is more attractive. We have lost many coaches, especially for gymnastics, to Singapore,” she said. – Bernama, November 23, 2023.