By Tony Mariadass
Runs derailed by Covid 19 cause for
concern
The Covid 19 pandemic which has
forced all mass gathering for sporting activities, has affected the athletics
fraternity badly with all road races come to a halt.
The running culture has caught on
like wildfire in Malaysia that not a week goes by without a few road races
around the country.
Most of the events, be it organised
by State Athletics Associations (SAA), clubs, companies or organisations, or
event managers, has been drastically affected them financially.
Most races are concentrated in the
Klang Valley, but it has caught on in States like Pahang, Penang, Johor and
Terengganu to name a few.
Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur
Athletics Association (FTKLAA), are among those who are suffering financially
because of loss of income from these races and are hoping that the Kuala Lumpur
Sports Council (KLSC), Kuala Lumpur Sports Council (KLSC) or City Hall, will
come to their aid to assist them with grants to continue with their athletics
development programmes and meets.
“FTKLAA is among the few athletics
association who is very active with the development programmes and meets all
year around. Mainly, our source of income for these programmes come from
sanction fees (which is nominal) and assisting to organise the runs for
companies, clubs and event managers,” said FTKLAA president Datuk S.
Vegiyathuman.
“With ban of mass gatherings, runs
and races have all come to halt and we do not know when it will be allowed
again. Considering the severity of pandemic, it is expected to take some time
before large gathering events are allowed,” said the veteran athletics
official.
“While some funding comes from KLSC,
KLSC or City Hall and sponsors, when we do events for them, the bulk of our
funds come from runs and races we sanction or assist in organise.
“Among our development programmes includes
walks circuit, jumps and throws events, development programmes for 13 years to
15 years (Under-distance, middle and long distance) and our State meet.
“We also have operating cost because unlike a
majority State AAA, we have an office (at Olympic Council of Malaysia building)
and two full time staff and our operational cost is about RM2,000 a month.”
Vegiyathuman said that annually, they
assist in organising a minimum of 20 runs a year and also give sanctions for a
nominal fee although not all races get our sanction.
“Our operations cost per year for all
our development events and annual meets for athletics, cross-country and walks
is easily RM200,000 and it is the funds from the races which assist us to
manage the events.”
All State AAs receive and annual
grant of RM5,000 a year from the national body – Malaysian Athletics Federation
– although efforts are being made to ask for a higher subsidy.
Penang AA’s secretary, V. Govindsamy,
who is also their technical chairman, said that they organise close to 50 runs
of various sizes annually and their income too has been drastically affected.
Johor AAA secretary V. Mathivanan said
they were luckier in the sense that the Johor Sports Council assists them
greatly, although runs too brings them income.
“We do not have as many runs held
like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor or Penang, but it still provides us additional
funds which is now lost,” said Mathivanan.
“Although it is required for all runs
held to be sanctioned, many, especially event managers, do not seek sanction,
and we lose revenue here too.”
Mathivanan also said with the Sukma
Johor and Para Sukma Games scheduled in July and August postponed to next year,
which is still subject to confirmation, has also affected their training
programme and funds for the events.
Selangor AAA secretary Rahim Mohd Noor said that they assist in
about 20 runs a year and their income have been affected too.
“We work closely with the Selangor Sports Council and they assist
use in our events. But without income from road races, we are stretched,” said
Rahim.
Pahang AAA secretary, Datuk R. Annamalai, who is also the MAF
vice-president, said Pahang assist and sanction about 20 to 25 runs annually
and some of them like the IUUM marathon and half marathon Pahang Beach Run and a few others are big events are
their main source of income.
“Some events have been postponed and we not know till when or
whether it will be cancelled like many who have already cancelled their events.
“We work closely with the Pahang Schools Sports Council and
now have to depend on them greater to do our development programmes and
together the grant from MAF, have to manage somehow,” said Annamalai.
“We may also have to look into more ways to raise funds for
our programmes.”
MAF president Datuk S. M. Muthu, however said they fine and
working with the National Sports Council (NSC).
When asked about the substantial sanction fee from the cancelled Kuala
Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2020, that was scheduled to take
place on 13 and 14 June 2020, Muthu said there are in discussion.
In light of the uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19
global pandemic, Dirigo Events, had on April 7 announced the cancellation of
the marathon.
Ends.
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