KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia can only bid to host Olympic Games after 2020 when the country becomes a developed nation, the Dewan Rakyat was told Monday.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this was because the hosts of Olympic Games before that had already been determined.
He said huge funds were needed to host an international sports meet like the Olympics.
Malaysia was more interested to stage Asian Games first to qualify as an Olympic Games host, he said when winding up debate on the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
He was replying to a question from Datuk Dr Mohd Fuad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat) who proposed to the government to lobby for the next Olympic Games.
Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) who interceded asked the government to focus on harnessing Olympic sports instead of non-Olympic sports like bowling.
Ismail Sabri said although sports like bowling, sepak takraw and squash were not included in the Olympics, they had brought glory to the country.
"The ministry will consider harnessing Olympic sports especially those which Malaysia has the potential," he said.
-- BERNAMA
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