PM'S SUPPORT STRENGTHENS MALAYSIA'S BID FOR 2013 IOC CONGRESS

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- A video clip containing a message from
Prime Minister Najib Razak will be among Malaysia's "secret" weapons in its bid
to host the 2013 International Olympic Council (IOC) Congress.

National Sports Council (NSC) Director-General Zolkples Embong said
Malaysia's delegation, headed by Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery
Cheek, would make a representation at the 122nd IOC Session in Vancouver, Canada
on Wednesday prior to the voting by IOC's 115 members.

"Malaysia is given 20 minutes to make the representation on its bid to host
the 2013 IOC Congress in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur's competitor is Buenos Aires
city (Argentina)," he told Bernama here Monday.

Apart from Zolkples and Ahmad Shabery, others in the Malaysian delegation
are Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar, OCM
vice-president Low Beng Choo and OCM honorary secretary Sieh Kok Chi.

Zolkples said Malaysia's representation would start with Tunku Imran
introducing Malaysia's bid, including on the venue and the country's
capabilities in hosting the event, followed by Ahmad Shabery who would touch on
on the issue of budget, security and the government's support to the bid.

"The minister is making the presentation on behalf of the government in
which the prime minister's video clip will be shown. The government's support is
crucial in convincing IOC members on the strength of KL's bid," he said.

Zolkples said the 2013 IOC Congress would decide the host for the 2020
Olympic Games as well as appoint a new president replacing Jacques Rogge whose
term would expire by then.

"If Malaysia succeed in the bid to host the congress, all eyes will be on
Kuala Lumpur," he said, addding that it would also strengthen the country's bid
for the 2019 Asian Games.

He also said that the bid for the IOC event as well as the 2019 Asian Games
received full support from the cabinet.

Malaysia lost to Qatar in its bid to host the 2006 Asian Games and did not
bid for the 2010 Asian Games, citing the high cost in hosting the event.

China will host the 2010 Asian Games in Gaungzhou while South Korea will
host the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
-- BERNAMA