THE Cabinet Committee for Sports has endorsed five proposals based on the recommendations of the Sports Ministry and National Sports Council (NSC).

The committee agreed in principal that a special budget be allocated for disabled athletes who represent the country in various competitions, and at the same time to attract more disabled people to be involved in sports.

"A high performance programme has been set for the disabled athletes and, therefore, we have agreed in principal that this group be given special attention," said Deputy Prime Minster Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is also the chairman of the committee.

Najib also mentioned that a joint working committee involving the Sports Ministry, Ministry of Education and Higher Education Ministry be formed so that a comprehensive programme can be implemented.

"These three ministries will work hand-in-hand, and come out with the one programme that will look into sports development and a combined training programme. With this, there will be continuity even after an athlete leaves school."
The committee also announced that a total of 346 elite athletes and a 5,344-member back-up squad have been identified by the NSC.

These athletes will be prepared for the 2009 and 2011 Sea Games, 2010 Asian Games, 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2012 London Olympics.

But Najib reiterated that the Sea Games will no longer be a priority as some of the sports introduced by the host nation is just a one-off thing.

"The Sea Games is not an important target but instead will be used as platform to expose junior athletes." said Najib.

Najib also acknowledge that parents' involvement in producing champions is vital.

"Parental support in producing a champion is very important, and one of the resolutions at the recent Sports Convention was that parents should be given bigger roles in the development of an athlete," said Najib.