KUALA LUMPUR: Milo, Malaysia's favourite nutritious beverage, is contributing more than RM500,000 to celebrate and honour the nation's Olympic heroes.
Each athlete who competed in the Olympic Games or will compete in the upcoming Paralympic Games will receive RM10,000, recognising their inspiring dedication and performances.
The contribution will benefit the 26 Malaysian Olympic athletes who competed in Paris and 30 Paralympic athletes preparing for the upcoming games.
A handover ceremony was held with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, where she thanked Milo for sponsoring and contributing RM10,000 to each of the Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
"This contribution will undoubtedly motivate our athletes to continue striving to excel in sports and bring honour to our country," she said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd and Milo business executive officer Ng Su Yen said for over 70 years, Milo has been privileged to play a part in the journey of Malaysian athletes, from their early days in school sports to representing the nation on the global stage.
"This contribution is our way of saying thank you to these incredible individuals who inspire us.
"We have seen many amazing athletes grow through our grassroots programmes, and now they are showing the world what Malaysians can achieve.
"By supporting all our Olympic and Paralympic athletes, we recognise their hard work and encourage Malaysia's future sporting champions," she noted.
The initiative builds upon Milo's long-standing partnership with the Olympic Council of Malaysia, which dates back to the 1950s.
"Milo's commitment to nurturing sports talent in Malaysia is further reflected through its various initiatives, including the Milo-MSSM national school sports competition, which has benefitted millions of school children over the past 60 years," it said.
The brand's philosophy that "Sports is a great teacher" aligns with its efforts to inspire and support athletes at all levels.