Malaysia needs a sports university - Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR - The establishment of a sports university, as proposed by the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF), is seen as an appropriate step towards advancing the sports industry in the country.

Sports analyst Datuk Pekan Ramli said that a sports university could serve as a centre for academic expertise, enabling various studies and creative innovations in sports to be carried out systematically.

He said a sports university could also provide career opportunities for former athletes, allowing them to contribute their expertise towards further developing sports in Malaysia.

"Sports universities are a catalyst for the success of major sporting nations in Asia such as China, South Korea and Japan. Most of the athletes who won Olympic gold medals for these countries were graduates or students of sports universities.

"Their success should be used as a reference to advance sports in our country. Moreover, with the establishment of a sports university, the career prospects of athletes after retirement will also be more secure, as they will have opportunities to contribute beyond just becoming coaches, as is often the case.

"It is time for the government to expedite the establishment of a higher education institution focusing on sports. If the government can establish ASWARA (National Academy of Arts and Cultural Heritage) to enhance the creative arts industry, why not have one for sports?" he told Bernama recently.

Earlier this week, MAF president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim suggested that the government set up a sports university to ensure that backup athletes, particularly those coming out of sports schools, continue to engage in sports, thereby ensuring Malaysia will not be short of talent.

In addition, Pekan believes that a sports university in Malaysia could be established without creating a new higher education institution by upgrading existing sports school facilities.

"Some people say that if we want to establish a sports university, we need to create a new university. However, I don't think that's necessary because it would incur high costs. An alternative would be to upgrade existing sports schools or change their status.

"For example, Bukit Jalil Sports School or the National Sports Institute already has various international-standard learning and sports facilities. In my view, this suggestion not only saves costs but also provides current athletes with opportunities to continue their education to a higher level," he said. - BERNAMA