No grounds for appeal as SEA Games sports list stands

PETALING JAYA: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) have defended the selection of sports for next year’s SEA Games, insisting that all 11 participating nations were given the opportunity to appeal before the final list was approved.

OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria was responding to Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir, who said he had written to Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohd Taufiq Johari seeking an explanation over the omission of several sports.

Erick questioned the fairness of leaving out Olympic sports in which South-East Asian athletes have excelled, particularly sport climbing, in which Indonesia is a strong contender.

Other omissions that have raised concern in Indonesia include rowing, beach volleyball, wrestling, chess, jujitsu, kickboxing and handball, as well as the men’s and women’s badminton team events.

Norza, who is also South-East Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) president, said the initial list of 38 sports was announced in April, with member nations given until May 8 to submit appeals.

“After we announced the initial 38 sports in April, we invited all the associations and countries involved to submit appeals. We gave them a month to do so.

“The appeals window ran from April to May. It is now November,” he said after a meeting in Bukit Kiara yesterday.

He said the selection process followed Rule 34 of the SEAGF charter and rules, which governs the inclusion of sports, compulsory disciplines and limits for each category.

The SEAGF council approved the initial list on April 8 before the Sports and Rules Committee, comprising representatives from all 11 nations, reviewed requests to add 29 sports.

“We made our decision after considering all the appeals that were submitted. I respect the concerns raised by Erick, but the decision was made collectively by all 11 countries,” said Norza.

Five additional sports – kabaddi, dancesport, teqball, padel and ice hockey – were subsequently approved by the council on July 17, bringing the total to 43.

The executive committee approved 473 events on Oct 30, with Norza saying discussions were now focused on individual events.

The 2027 SEA Games will be held from Sept 18-29.