KUALA LUMPUR: The Road To Gold (RTG) programme has reaffirmed that national athletes’ commercial interests were safeguarded during the 2024 Paris Olympics campaign, with all sponsorship arrangements formalised to protect their rights.
RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam said several offers were received from sponsors seeking to reward athletes who won medals at the Games, and all were documented to ensure transparency and accountability.
“We ensured that commercial arrangements were in place for every sponsorship offer that came in, regardless of the outcome at the Olympics,” he said.
“With so much at stake for the athletes, it was crucial we ensured they did not lose out once they successfully met the sponsorship criteria, while all parties were fully aware of their rights and obligations.”
Stuart confirmed that all athletes who met the criteria received their rewards within two months of the Games.
The statement comes amid an ongoing dispute over athlete sponsorship.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh also supported a recent statement by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki regarding the dispute between the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) and para-badminton champion Cheah Liek Hou.
“I support the recent statement by Tan Sri Azam Baki, which called for clear governance structures and mandatory contractual agreements moving forward,” she said.
“We must ensure that this issue doesn’t jeopardise other potential sponsors who want to reward our national athletes who have excelled in their sport and made the country proud.”
Hannah emphasised the need for strong governance and transparent communication in handling sponsorship agreements to avoid disputes and maintain sponsors’ trust.
The RTG programme, jointly led by the ministry and the Olympic Council of Malaysia, was established to provide targeted support for national athletes with realistic medal prospects.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
