OCM clarifies after criticism of Norza bringing family to Olympics

August 6, 2024

OCM clarifies after criticism of Norza bringing family to Olympics

PETALING JAYA: Top officials attending the Paris Olympics are allowed to bring along guests, the Olympic Council of Malaysia clarified tonight.

In responce to criticism about the presence of family members with OCM president Norza Zakaria at the badminton event in Paris, OCM said top officials were given special accreditation cards which entitled them to bring guests.

OCM said that the accreditation for guests of top officials was different from the accreditation granted to the Malaysian contingent, including coaches and support staff.

The council said the International Olympic Committee allocated special accreditation cards to the OCM president and secretary-general, each with accompanying guests.

“Accreditation for these individuals is also subject to various limitations, particularly regarding access to the field of play and the athletes’ village.

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“Above all, it doesn’t involve any government funding,” OCM told FMT.

Social media users had questioned the presence of Norza’s wife and son, who were photographed sitting with him during the badminton men’s doubles playoff for the bronze medal yesterday.

Malaysian pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik defeated Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, to win Malaysia’s first medal at the Paris Olympics.

Norza told Malaysiakini earlier that he was allowed to bring his own guests as both OCM and the Badminton Association of Malaysia president. “I have a special quota, which has nothing to do with the athletes,” he was quoted as saying.