Sports bodies seek more in 2021 budget after Covid-19’s ravages

 

Professional sports, such as badminton and football, have been forced to halt or be played without spectators because of Covid-19. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Major sporting bodies are hoping that next year’s budget will include items that will make up for a year that has seen sports put on pause.

During the MCO and subsequent lockdowns, professional sports were forced to halt or be played without spectators – a huge blow to sporting bodies that rely heavily on gate collections and TV rights.

Mohamad Norza Zakaria, president of both the Olympic Council of Malaysia and the Badminton Association of Malaysia, told FMT the two bodies had several key items on their budget wish lists.

He said he would welcome an increase in the 7% to 10% tax break currently being offered to companies or individuals who help further national sports.

“It would definitely entice more companies, particularly, to become sponsors or partners of either sports events or national sports associations,” he said.

Norza recommended income tax exemptions for sports venue stakeholders, athletes and event organisers, most of whom have been without revenue due to inactivity.

He also made these proposals:

• That the government introduce a pension scheme for athletes who qualify for the Olympic Games to ensure they are taken care of once their careers end; and
• That money be diverted from “industries benefiting from the pandemic, like mask and glove producers or vaccine suppliers” into the sports sector.

Speaking on behalf of all national para-sports coaches, para-athletics coach R Jeganathan said he hoped to see the government increase its support of para-sports with a number of international events on the horizon, including the World Championships and the Summer Paralympic Games.

“We want the current ministers to give us more support with a special allocation for our para-athletes because they have been performing well in international tournaments,” he said. - FMT