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IOC honours first female and youngest Sports Minister in Malaysia

8 March 2008

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today joined in International Women's Day and revealed the winners of its 2008 Women and Sport Awards.
During the Opening Ceremony of the IV IOC World Conference on Women and Sport in Jordan, IOC President Jacques Rogge announced that the World “Women and Sport” Trophy has been awarded to the first female and youngest Minister of Youth and Sports in Malaysia, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. Azalina was honoured for boosting the number of women practising sport in Malaysia – and this just under four years since her appointment.

As well as the World Trophy, five continental trophies were presented to women who have made outstanding contributions to strengthening the participation of women and girls in sport around the world. The 2008 winners - a mix of political personalities and former top athletes - were selected by the IOC Women and Sport Commission from 70 candidatures submitted by the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs):

- Trophy for Africa: Ana Paula Dos Santos (Angola)

- Trophy for the Americas: Abby Hoffman (Canada)

- Trophy for Asia: Lingwei Li (China)

- Trophy for Europe: Stefka Kostadinova (Bulgaria)

- Trophy for Oceania: Debbie Watson (Australia)

The ceremony took place at the Dead Sea in Jordan, in the presence of HM King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; HRH Prince Feisal bin Al-Hussein, President of the Jordanian NOC; IOC President Jacques Rogge; Anita DeFrantz, IOC member and Chairwoman of the IOC Women and Sport Commission; the members of the IOC Women and Sport Commission; and the attendees of the IV IOC World Conference on Women and Sport.

During the next two days, more than 600 participants from across the globe will debate the topic "Sport as a vehicle for social change" and the role women and girls can play in this. Keynote speakers include former top athletes, representatives from governments, businesses, UN agencies and the media, and academics. The event is under the patronage of Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is jointly organised by the IOC and the NOC of Jordan.

Information on the winner:

Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said

As the first female and youngest Minister of Youth and Sports in Malaysia, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has completely revolutionised the participation of Malaysian women in sport. In addition to her role as Youth and Sports Minister, Azalina is a sports book author, a founder of a sports festival and a women's sport and fitness foundation and, last but not least, an enthusiastic sports woman. She set up the Women's Games, attracting 3,400 Malaysian women in 2007; developed the power walk manual, which currently reaches some 60,000 people across the nation; and established 580 community centres, enabling about 100,000 female participants to practise sporting activities.

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PRIDE & PASSION : A tribute to Azalina’s vision

It was another feather in the cap for Youth and Sports Minister, Dato’ Seri Azalina Othman Said whe she was named the winner of the prestigious Women and Sport Award 2007.

Azalina, who was nominated for the award by the Women, Sports and Fitness Foundation of Malaysia (WSFFM), received her award from Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) President, Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar.
More than 700 guests' attended the Fifth Women and Sport Awards Ceremony, held at the OCM's Indoor Sports Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

Among the other nominees for the Women and Sport Award were Chee Shin Lim of the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia and Normala Rashid from the Perak Women’s Football Association.

“The selection committee chose Azalina based on her tremendous contribution towards Women and Sports in Malaysia. She is among the founders of the Women, Sports and Fitness Foundation of Malaysia (WSFFM),” said OCM Vice President, Low Beng Choo.

The award, which is an initiative by the OCM’s Women in Sport Committee, has become increasingly popular in recent years with more sports bodies, government agencies and non-governmental organisations sending nominations for the various categories of awards.

“This year we received 27 nominations for the three categories. Besides the main award, the other two awards are for Women and Sport for Grassroots Development and Women and Sport for Community Development,” said Beng Choo.

Also, this year the Women and Sport Committee introduced a new award – Women and Sport Partnership Award – which is designed to give recognition to persons who have contributed to bring success to women athletes or teams.

Ee Phoeh Hoon, who started the Squash Rackets Association of Penang’s Junior Development Program in 1988, was selected as the winner of the Women and Sport Grassroots Development Award.

“That program became an effective vehicle for talent identification and Penang has since become a regular reservoir for national athletes. The David sisters, Lianne Cheryl and the more illustrious Nicol were the products of this program,” added Beng Choo.

The Women and Sport Award for Community Development was won by Kok Mong Lin, an educator, trainer, coach and technical official who, for years been taking rhythmic gymnastics to the community.

“She has contributed immensely in producing coaches for general gymnastics and also in the promotion of kindergym,” explained Beng Choo.

Meanwhile, two men were among the award winners. Tan See Wah and Tan Wah Heng, both from basketball, were the reciepients of the Women and Sport Partnership Award.Tan See Wah, a former national basketball player, has been extremely sucessful as Malaysia's women's team coach, winning five international championships.

Then, with Wah Heng as the team manager, the popular duo have produced another three gold medal winning teams in three SEA Games.

According to Beng Choo, the idea for these awards came about when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited OCM to nominate a person or an organisation for the IOC Women Women and Sport Trophy in 2001.

"Malaysia has a fair number of women achievers in sport or sports related activities. Whilst there are awards for recognition of accomplished athletes and leading personalities, many women coaches and sports administrators, and their work at the grassroots level may have gone unrecognised," added Beng Choo.- Malaysian today

 
Overwhelming response from women



PUTRAJAYA: About 2,500 athletes will participate in the Second National Women's Games, which will be held in the Klang Valley from June 1-9.

The Women Sports and Fitness Foundation Malaysia (WSFFM) executive director, Dr Shamala Subramaniam, said that it was an increase of over 700 from the inaugural Games held two years ago.

“We certainly did not expect such a huge turnout, especially when there are more individual sports this year,” she said at the official launch of the TV commercial and theme song for the Games here yesterday.

The 2005 Games programme had aquatics, athletics, badminton, bowling, football, gymnastics, hockey, squash and netball. The upcoming edition will have athletics, beach volleyball, kayak, chess, golf, lawn bowls, netball, sepaktakraw, silat, table tennis, triathlon and weightlifting.

“We are certainly delighted with the response and this augurs well for the future of the Games,” said Shamala.
The function was officiated by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who initiated the Games two years ago.

“Women play an important role in Malaysian sports. At the Doha Asian Games, 65% of our medal winners were female,” said Azalina.

“That is why the National Women's Games is such an important event.
“It will allow us to unearth more new talent.

“This is another reason for us not allowing national athletes – junior or senior – to compete.” – Bernama

OLIVIA Newton-John supports 2nd National Women Games organized by WSFFM
UPON her beliefs towards a healthy lifestyle among women, breast cancer survivor and self-confessed fitness freak, Olivia Newton-John, who recently visited Kuala Lumpur, is giving full support towards the 2nd National Women Games.

The 59-year-old pop diva who is in Malaysia for the first time to do a one-night concert in Genting Highlands, was kind enough to donate RM200,000 from the collection of her concert tickets to the funds for the National Women Games 2007, through its organizer,  Jojo Events.

According to the Treasurer of WSFFM, Datin Seri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil, the collection would indeed assist WSFFM in making the Games a more memorable one this year.  The 2nd National Women Games will be held from the 1st to 9th of June, next month.

Dressed in white, Olivia looked beautiful as she fielded questions from the media and fans at the Hard Rock Café here, ahead of her concert at the Arena of Stars on April 29.

“I work out a lot and I think I have good genes. I try to eat healthy, stay away from dairy products and take rice and soy, although I must confess I had a piece of cake earlier – I just could not resist it!”, she said  when asked how she managed to retain her youthful appearance through the years.

Olivia said she spent a lot of her time now raising funds for humanitarian causes, including promoting public awareness on breast cancer and is also in the process of setting up the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre in her hometown, Melbourne.
Her latest album, Grace and Gratitude, touches on her personal experience of spiritual, physical and emotional healing.

“It is very, very exciting to be here and I am excited about the show. I also hope to see a bit of your very exciting city after the show”.
The Olivia Newton-John concert is presented by Jojo Events and LiteFM.

 

2nd National Women Games Aims Women Coaches and Officials



COACHES and officials will also be tracked for their skill and dedication in the 2nd National Women Games (NWG) on June 1-9.

Besides the athletes, those behind the scenes such as capable coaches and officials who prove themselves will be absorbed into the Government’s coaching and technical schemes for grooming.
“This will help fill the present void in the areas of coaching and officials involving sportswomen in the country,” said Sports Minister, Dato' Seri Azalina Othman Said at the soft launch of the NWG at the National Sports Council (NSC) yesterday.

The Games are organized by the Women’s Sports Fitness Foundation Malaysia (WSFFM), the NSC and the Sports Ministry.

“The Ministry always gets complaints that there are not enough women officials in the country.
A sports culture involves not only being an athlete, but also those in the background who put it all together to ensure success,” said Azalina.
“Being a coach is not easy as it requires a sound knowledge of the sport and a lot of experience is needed.

“So the NWG will be an avenue of opportunities for everyone involved.” This year’s NWG will only retain two sports (athletics and netball) from the first edition, and introduce 10 — beach volleyball, canoe/ kayaking, chess, golf, lawn bowls, sepaktakraw, silat, table tennis, triathlon and weightlifting.

Azalina said: ‘I’m especially excited about sepaktakraw and weightlifting. When I was in Doha (for the Asian Games), everyone was asking how come Malaysia did not have a sepaktakraw team when even China fielded one at the Games.

“Sepaktakraw was made in Malaysia and we must capitalise on it. We decided then to scrap the eight core sports as these sports already have a good development base, and focus on other sports which can bring us medals at the regional and world arena,” said Azalina.

WSFFM executive director S. Shamala added that though entries for the Games close only on April 15, 12 teams had already registered for sepaktakraw, 30 for netball and a staggering 500 for chess.

Apart from the 13 States, the Games are also open to the corporate sector this year, and to Malaysian women of all ages.

“The youngest athlete last year was aged three, and the oldest was 55,” said Shamala, who confirmed that the WSFFM is discussing the possibility of sending podium finishers from each sport for exchange programmes overseas.

 

Azalina selected as an ambassador of Women Win
 SPORTS Minister, Dato' Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic), for her tireless efforts for Malaysian women in sport, has been rewarded by being the first Asian woman to be selected as an ambassador of the Women Win organization based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The non-governmental organization (NGO) is the first ever to advocate for sports as an effective strategy towards the empowerment of women and girls internationally.

Azalina’s appointment comes just six months after she was honoured by Women Sports International (WSI) in Washington, United States, with a complimentary membership.

As the ambassador of Women Win, Azalina’s efforts will go a long way towards helping Malaysia’s sports women gain international exposure and share more global resources.

Her appointment comes after Malaysia’s hosting of the International Working Group on Women in Sports (IWG) meeting last month at which the IWG recommended her to the NGO after seeing Azalina’s contribution and on-going work in the Women’s Sports and Fitness Foundation Malaysia (WSFFM) which she founded in 1995.

"The Minister was informed earlier of the news which we received through an e-mail from the organisation and she was very happy and honoured with the recognition as she is the first Asian woman to be given such an honour by the international body", said WSFFM executive director, S. Shamala.
 

Collective voice for women in sports sought



REPRESENTATIVES from five different regions exchanged views on women in sports at the Annual International World Games for Women in Sports meeting in Kuala Lumpur early this month.

Co-chairperson of the meeting, Johanna Adriaanse, said the main purpose of the meeting is to have a strategic plan for the new term of the International Working Group on Women and Sports (IWG).

"We are hoping to get a global, sustainable and collective voice for women in sports from all over the world," said Johanna, who is representing Australia.

She said the IWG sees sports as empowerment of women as women can be seen taking the leadership role such as team captain or coaches.


Among the issues covered at the meeting were sexual harassment which often happens when women fall victim to abusive coaches.
Johanna is also very impressed with the development of women in sports in Malaysia. "I think Malaysia can be a role model for others to learn from in developing women sports" she said.



This is the first time Malaysia is hosting the annual meeting which had delegates from Australia, US, Canada, Netherlands, Japan, Fiji, Finland and Qatar attending. The meeting ends today.

 

LYDIA conducts self defense for disabled women

THE IWG also stepped out of the boardroom and paid a visit to 20 disabled women in Putrajaya for a worthy cause, where Lydia La Riviere, who is a consultant on gender and diversity, educated the women in self defense for the disabled.



“It is our first attempt here at helping disabled women in sports,” said Lydia, who is also wheel chair bound after an accident some years ago.

Lydia is active within the Women’s Movement since the early seventies and the Disability Movement since the early eighties (since a car-accident in 1982). She studied psychotherapy at the University of Amsterdam, has an MA in social science (especially disability studies and social and community studies) at the University of Leeds and De Montfort University at Leicester.

She’s also a licensed feminist self-defense and martial arts teacher (3rdDegree Black Belt in Karate, Brown belt Aikido) and has a longstanding professional career in various countries and (academic) institutions, among which: working with women in Africa and the EU, at several EU universities and working on the issue of intersectional discrimination (gender, disability, sexual orientation, race) within various educational training centers and universities throughout Europe.

PELAN STRATEGIK WSFFM 2007

oleh DR. SHAMALA SUBRAMANIAM

TAHUN baru adalah salah satu perkara yang penting dalam kehidupan harian kita.  Ia memberi peluang pembaharuan kepada kita untuk mempertingkatkan tahap kehidupan.  Tahun 2006 meninggalkan banyak kenangan manis untuk WSFFM, antaranya pelancaran pejabat baru di Pusat Skuasy Nasional Bukit Jalil, pertandingan “4X4 Mild To Wild Challenge”, Persidangan Wanita dan Sukan Asia Tenggara yang pertama di Kuala Lumpur dan lain-lain lagi.

Penglibatan wanita di dalam program-program anjuran WSFFM yang amat menggalakkan telah menjadi factor pendorong utama WSFFM membuat perancangan yang rapi untuk tahun 2007.  Program yang dirancang berorientasikan kombinasi ideal di antara elemen kecergasan dan sukan berprestasi tinggi.  Penekanan juga telah diberikan terhadap aspek pendedahan wanita di tanahair kepada strategi serta pelaksanaan antarabangsa yang amat berkesan dalam meningkatkan penyertaan wanita dalam sukan.  Antara program yang dirancangkan adalah :-

  1. Mesyuarat Agung 2007 pada 16 Januari, 2007 di Auditorium 1, Majlis Sukan Negara
  2. Konvensyen Aerobik Antarabangsa yang akan diadakan di Kuala Lumpur pada 28-29 April 2007
  3. Sukan Wanita Kebangsaan ke-2 yang akan diadakan di Kuala Lumpur pada 1-9 Jun 2007
  4. Persidangan Antarabangsa Wanita dan Sukan di Kuala Lumpur pada 30-31 Oktober 2007

Kejayaan semua perancangan ini amat bergantung kepada impak yang dapat dicapai untuk mempertingkatkan penglibatan wanita dalam sukan serta sokongan dan dorongan yang diterima oleh WSFFM.  WSFFM amat berharap agar kesemua pihak yang terlibat sama ada secara langsung atau tidak langsung akan memberi komitmen yang tinggi terhadap menjadikan tanah air sebuah negara yang menerajui wanita dalam sukan di dunia.
 

WSFFM KINI MILIKI 10,000 AHLI

YAYASAN Sukan dan Kecergasan Wanita (WSFFM) menerima berita paling menggembirakan baru-baru ini.  Kempen kad keahlian yang sebelum ini dilancarkan dengan kerjasama syarikat kereta nasional, Proton Holdings Berhad telah mencapai jumlah keahlian yang memberangsangkan apabila 10,000 wanita dari seluruh negara telah mendaftar sebagai ahli.  Jumlah keahlian ini membuktikan bahawa WSFFM kini sudah mula diterima oleh ramai golongan wanita yang sudah mula menyedari bahawa menerusi keahlian ini mereka dapat meluaskan tahap pengetahuan tentang isu kecergasan dan sukan.

Pelaksanaan program ini dimudahkan melalui media elektronik di mana ahli-ahli yayasan dapat mengambil, menapis maklumat, berbincang dan memberi pandangan mereka melalui forum, membaca akhbar mingguan, mendaftar secara online dan pelbagai ciri-ciri menarik yang lain.

Di samping menyatukan pendapat dan dan kekuatan wanita, WSFFM telah merangka beberap program yang lebih meluas iaitu dari Sukan Untuk Semua sehingga kepada sukan berprestasi tinggi.  Pengerusi WSFFM, Yang Berbahagia Dato' Seri’ Azalina Dato' Seri’ Othman Said ialah seorang ketua yang cemerlang, berinspirasi dan telus untuk membuat kelainan dalam gaya hidup golongan wanita.   Azalina sentiasa menggalakkan penyatuan dan mengetengahkan kuasa wanita melalui sukan supaya remaja perempuan dan wanita meraih pencapaian  yang terbaik di dalam setiap aspek kehidupan.  Misi dan pelan strategik beliau telah mula direalisasikan dan dibuktikan. Walaupun mencabar, ia tetap memberi makna yang mendalam kepada wanita.  Pejabat WSFFM terletak di lokasi strategik di Pusat Skuasy Nasional di Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, mudah dilawati.

Untuk memastikan pembangunan wanita di dalam bidang sukan berterusan, WSFFM sentiasa mengadakan aktiviti seperti kursus dan seminar. WSFFM akan terus gigih dalam meneruskan usaha murni demi memperkasakan wanita, memupuk sikap setiakawan dalam mencapai keamanan dan perpaduan di kalangan masyarakat melalui sukan.  Sehubungan itu, kami mengalu-alukan lebih ramai wanita bukan sahaja untuk menjadi ahli WSFFM, tetapi menyumbang pendapat dan cadangan yang boleh memperkasakan wanita.
- WSFFM

 

PERSIDANGAN WANITA DALAM SUKAN ASIA TENGGARA 2006


PERSIDANGAN “SEA Women In Sports – Paradigm Of Change” yang berlangsung di Hotel dan Pusat Persidangan Berjaya Times Square pada 21 hingga 22 September lalu bukan sahaja mendapat sambutan yang menggalakkan dengan jumlah penyertaan yang ramai, tetapi juga berjaya mengumpulkan beberapa tokoh terkemuka dalam sukan wanita dari seluruh dunia.

Seramai 331 peserta mengambil bahagian dan daripada jumlah itu, 309 adalah peserta tempatan dan 22 peserta lagi terdiri daripada wakil dari sembilan buah negara Asia Tenggara.  Antara penceramah yang membentangkan kertas kerja di dalam persidangan yang julung kali diadakan itu ialah Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara, Dato’ Dr. Ramlan Abd. Aziz, Timbalan Ketua Pengarah MSN, Dato’ Zolkples Embong, Pengarah Bahagian Sukan Wanita, Dr. Shamala Subramaniam, Ketua Projek AsiaComm, Damien Kelly, Penasihat Bahagian Kejurulatihan Sukan, Syeikh Kamaruddin Sheikh Ahmad dan bekas atlet negara yang pernah mengharumkan nama Malaysia, Zaiton Othman.

Manakala penceramah luar negara pula teridiri daripada Johanna A Vescio (Australia), Lydia La Riviere-Zijdel (Belanda), Faezah Hashemi (Iran), Dr. Nirmala Prasad (India), Hallam Pereira (Australia), Tricia Heberie (Australia) dan Dr. Darlene Kluka (Amerika Syarikat).

Persidangan itu dimulakan dengan pengenalan mengenai WSFFM dan Wanita Dalam Sukan oleh Dr. Shamala sebelum majlis dibuka dengan rasminya oleh Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Dato' Seri Azalina Dato' Seri Othman Said.  Azalina di dalam ucapannya berkata, ibu memainkan peranan paling penting untuk menjadikan diri mereka sebagai idola kepada anak masing-masing.  Katanya, wanita juga mempunyai kebolehan untuk mengubah sesuatu di dalam rutin kehidupan seharian masing-masing sekiranya mereka mempunyai keinginan yang tinggi.  Azalina juga berkata, kita seharusnya merasa bertuah kerana Malaysia tidak pernah mengamalkan diskriminasi terhadap wanita terutama di dalam bidang sukan.

“Saya berharap persidangan ini menjadi detik permulaan bagi wanita memahami bahawa mereka perlu mengubah paradigma. Saya harap dapat lihat lebih ramai juara dunia di kalangan wanita seperti Nicol David dalam masa terdekat ini.”
- WSFFM

 

 

Malaysian Minister joins WomenSport International (WSI)

(full article from http://www.sportsbiz.bz/womensportinternational/)

WomenSport International (WSI) welcomes Dato' Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister for Youthand Sport in Malaysia, to its membership. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to women's sport in Malaysia Dato' Seri Azalina received a complimentary membership on WSI at the South East Asia Women in Sport Conference which was held for the first time on 21-22 September 2006 in Kuala Lumpur.

Before entering politics at the turn of the millennium Dato' Seri Azalina was a partner in the largest law firm in Malaysia. In March 2004 she was appointed as the Minister of Youth and Sport. Her appointment has made a mark in history by becoming the first woman Minister of Youth and Sport in her country and the youngest Cabinet Minister. She is also a Foundation Board member of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA).

In her opening speech at the SEA Women in Sport Conference entitled "Paradigms of Change" she said:

"There is a powerful correlation between the increased participation of women in sports to the global issues of women empowerment, and more specifically, gender equality."

She also mentioned that, in June 2006, she created a Women and Sports Division within the National Sports Council headed by Dr. Shamala Subramanium and twelve full time staff.

" By placing women in strategic positions we hope to encourage more women to take the lead and create more opportunities for women in sports nationwide."

Following the opening speech Johanna Vescio, WSI Executive Committee member, presented the 1st keynote on strategies to facilitate women's participation in sport.

350 participants attended the Conference which was hosted by the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation Malaysia (WSFFM). Dato' Seri Azalina is also a Founder and the current Chair of WSFFM, the NGO for women and sport in her country launched in 1995.

In addition to organising the SEA Women in Sport Conference, WSFFM organised jointly with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Council and the National Sports Associations the first National Women's Games in 2005. A total of 3,000 athletes and officials participated in the games across nine sports which were aquatics, athletics, badminton, bowling, football, gymnastics, hockey, squash and netball.

Other WSFFM projects include the Power Walk Series, Young Women's Health Seminar, the Women's Coaching Convention and the 4x4 Woman Challenge. Further information about the SEA Women in Sport conference and WSFFM can be found at www.wsffm.com.

WSI congratulates Dato' Seri Azalina on her accomplishments, a strong woman in many respects. Incidentally, she holds a 6th Dan Black Belt in Taekwando!