KUALA LUMPUR: The bulk of the 40 officials being sent to support 26 athletes at the Paris Olympics (July 26-Aug 11) are technical specialists and sports science-related support staff.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) today released the full list of officials in the contingent for Paris to clear the air following recent criticism.
Certain quarters had questioned the high number of officials in the contingent, with a ratio of 1.5 officials per athlete, as well as the costs involved to bring them to Paris.
Malaysia is sending the smallest number of athletes to the games since Athens 2004.
OCM, in a statement today, defended their decision to send the 40 officials.
"As the custodian of the Olympic Games in Malaysia, OCM is mandated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure our athletes receive comprehensive support," said OCM.
"This includes coaches, technical experts and a range of essential services to optimise performances.
"Funding is provided partly by IOC bodies such as Olympic Solidarity and the IOC's The Olympic Partners sponsorship, along with contributions from the National Sports Council (NSC) and National Sports Institute (NSI).
"OCM emphasises that all expenditures are carefully planned and necessary for the successful participation of our athletes.
"The attention-drawing official attire and luggage (for contingent) is fully sponsored by our long-standing partners, Yonex Sunrise Malaysia and Samsonite Malaysia, ensuring that there is no additional financial burden on the OCM or the athletes."
OCM disclosed that from the 40 officials, 15 are technical experts (including coaches), 11 are support services crew, nine are management and secretariat personnel while five are team managers.
The 15 technical experts are Lee Jae Hyung (archery coaching director), Norizham Ishak (archery), Robert Ballard (athletics technical director), Nor Aznizal Najib (diving), Eric Anderson (swimming), Rexy Mainaky (badminton technical director), Tan Bin Shen, Nova Widianto, Hoon Thien How, Wong Tan Meng (all badminton), Amir Mustafa Rusli (road cycling), John Beasley (track cycling), Asri Azman (sailing), Firdaus Abd Rahim (shooting) and Edmund Yeo (weightlifting).
The support services crew is comprised of Dr Jasmiza Khuzairi Jasme (chief medical officer), Nurdiasafra Hassan, Chin Chee Yong (both physiotherapists), Sebah Kari, Mollynica Juanis (both masseurs), Muhamad Shafiq Amran (strength and conditioning coach), Lim Jin Xuan (mental health officer), Harnizam Basri (track cycling mechanic), Chee Lee Ming (Performance analyst), as well as Luke Henry Swemmer and Joshua Xihua Song (both golf caddies).
OCM said the management and secretariat for the contingent will be led by chef de mission Datuk Hamidin Amin and deputy chef de mission Datuk Nicol David.
The seven other secretariat officials are Almas Afrieda Ramli (chief of the secretariat, OCM), Izzat Danial Su Azlan (OCM), Ang Li Peng (safeguarding officer, OCM), Megat Ahmad Kushairy Abdul Aziz (NSC), Mohamad Fawwaz Jamal (NSI), Faizal Mohd Yusop (OCM) and Rizal Hashim (press attache, OCM).
The five team managers are Datuk Teoh Teng Chor (badminton), Norazman Abu Samah (road cycling), Mohd Izham Mohamad (track cycling), Teoh Piek Kee (golf) and Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim (weightlifting).
With sports science and technology playing a key role in modern sports, it is not uncommon for a single athlete to be supported by a team of five to six individuals.
This could include a coach, physioterapist, masseuse, performance analyst, psychologist, nutritionist, chef, stringer (racquet sports) and mechanic (cycling)