KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no freeloaders at future multi-sports games following the approval of the revamped Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) selection processes and criteria.
OCM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria, confirmed on Tuesday, that the executive board have approved the suggestions which was presented by an independent panel a day earlier.
The independent panel which was established in September last year was chaired by former Olympian Tan Sri Dr M.Jegathesan.
Based on the new selection processes and criteria, athletes who wish to qualify under category A (fully sponsored) must be ranked top three, and have a good performance record in the last 12 months, while for category B (self funded), athletes must be within the top-eight bracket.
For team events, fourth ranked teams may be considered.
Norza also stressed that the selection process and criteria will also apply to Chef de Missions (CDM) and team officials.
"The main objective of this exercise is to strengthen the existing policy and to make sure the policy is not having a detachment between the policy maker and the athletes.
"The existing policy was established since 1983 and it had been reviewed once in 2006.
"The selection criteria will be based on games level. There are five levels — world, Asian, Southeast Asia, youth and other.
"One of the main changes in the selection criteria will be based on current season's best which is within a period of 12 months, instead of results of previous games to qualify for fully-funded or self-funded category," said Norza after chairing the executive board meeting at the OCM office here.
The independent panel also introduced a few salient features in the reviewed policy which include a more independent and transparent selection committee, which will be made up of the OCM president, director-general of the National Sports Council (Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail), chief executive officer or a designated representative of the National Sports Institute (NSI) and two independent members.
And to ensure financial stability of the selection process, a 50 per cent advance payment will be imposed to the self-funded category and full payment will have to be made within 60 days before the opening of the games.
Meanwhile, in regard to the Philippines Sea Games this November, Norza disclosed that the Philippines Olympic Committee (POC) had confirmed that a total of 56 sports consisting of 523 events will be contested at this year's biennial event.
There will also be a briefing session with a representative from the POC for all National Sports Associations (NSAs) on Jan 23.
The 30th edition of the biennial Games will be held on Nov 30-Dec 11.