NSC Takes Proactive Steps to Address Athletes’ Issues in Japan

THE National Sports Council (NSC), in collaboration with the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), has taken proactive measures to ensure that various issues arising ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games do not affect the preparations of national athletes who began arriving in Japan several days ago.

Among the issues being addressed is a shortage of accommodation, which has also affected several other contingents, including the national karate squad scheduled to arrive in Nagoya this Thursday.

The NSC, however, immediately stepped in to cover the cost of additional rooms at the official hotel for five karate athletes who had previously not been provided with accommodation.

For the archery squad, the accommodation status of 16 athletes and officials has yet to be confirmed by the organisers.

As a precautionary measure, the NSC has already booked 11 rooms at a separate hotel.

“To prevent the athletes’ focus from being disrupted, the NSC has booked 11 rooms at a separate hotel and will bear the cost, including transportation to the competition venue, if the organisers fail to confirm the accommodation arrangements when they arrive on Sept 24,” the NSC said in a statement on Tuesday.

So far, athletes and officials from women’s basketball, women’s cricket, equestrian, as well as the men’s and women’s hockey teams, have arrived in Aichi, Nagoya and Tokyo, with accommodation provided by the organisers.

To cope with unpredictable weather conditions, the NSC has also provided every national athlete with a raincoat following heavy rain in Aichi and Nagoya over the past several days.

In addition, the secretariat has prepared a Safety Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for athletes, alongside the Natural Disaster Safety SOP provided by the organisers.

“NSC officials in Aichi and Nagoya are also in constant communication with the organisers to ensure that meals provided to Malaysian athletes are halal-certified,” it said.

The assurance applies to athletes staying at the Games Village and official hotels.

At the same time, the NSC has brought supplies of ready-to-eat meals as a precaution should they be needed by the athletes.

The measure is also aimed at reducing the risk of food poisoning if athletes are required to obtain food from outside throughout the Games.

On transportation, the NSC is also taking into account the possibility of delays after some contingents reportedly had to wait up to 40 minutes before vehicles were provided to take them to competition venues.

“The NSC also anticipates that transportation for athletes to competition venues could pose problems and has prepared a solution by identifying transportation service providers that can be booked for the use of Malaysian athletes,” it said.

The NSC also reminded all athletes to keep their team management informed of any issues that could affect their focus and preparations so that appropriate follow-up action can be referred to the organisers to find the best possible solution.

Sinar Harian