ONLY ATHLETES CERTIFIED A/H1N1-FREE CAN COMPETE IN ASEAN PARA GAMES

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), June 27 (Bernama) -- Only athletes with health
certificates from their respective countries, certifying them as free from
Influenza A(H1N1), will be allowed to compete in the ASEAN Para Games here from
Aug 15-19.

Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) president Zainal Abu Zarin said all
11 countries participating in the Games (including Timor Leste upon invitation)
must produce health certificates from their respective countries as a
precautionary measure.

"The directive applies to host Malaysia as well and the screening will be
done by the Health Ministry, National Sports Council (NSC) and National Sports
Institute (ISN)," he told Bernama here Saturday after briefing representatives
of participating countries on safety measures that need to be taken in view of
the
global spread of the disease.

Zainal added that a meeting would be held next week with Kuala Lumpur
International Airport (KLIA) to seek their cooperation in providing a separate
area to screen Para Games participants.


"If possible, MPC wants the screening area on foreign contingents to be
separated from the public so as to carry out a thorough screening test to
confirm they were free from the A/ H1N1 virus," he said.

MPC would also appeal to the Health Ministry to carry out screening at the
respective hotels (at least a day) where athletes stayed during the Games.

All these measures are being emphasized to ensure the Para Games can go on
without any disruption or cancellation, he said

The Games, being hosted by Malaysia after SEA Games host Laos declined the
host job due to lack of expertise, facilities and funds, would see 980 disabled
athletes competing in 11 sports competed.

Sports competed are athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, power
lifting, chess, bowling, sailing, wheel-chair tennis, wheel-chair basketball and
sitting volleyball.

--BERNAMA