Olympic Council of Malaysia to Move into New Office by 2027
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) is planning to relocate its office to a new building, known as Olympic House Malaysia, in Bukit Jalil by the time Malaysia hosts the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2027. However, the secretary-general of OCM, Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, acknowledged that the relocation process will be challenging.
New Office Location
The OCM has decided to lease a five-acre plot of land adjacent to the National Hockey Stadium from the Malaysian Stadium Corporation. The land lease matter has been discussed, and the OCM will swap the Wisma OCM land with Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB). The OCM is waiting for Cabinet approval to lease the land.
Once the land is leased and paid for, the OCM can hand it over to MRCB for development. Out of the five acres of land, two acres are expected to be used for the office building, while the remaining space will be allocated for parking, gardens, and training areas.
Reasons for Relocation
The decision to move to Bukit Jalil was made because most sports facilities have relocated to the area, in addition to accessibility challenges due to heavy traffic around Wisma OCM in central Kuala Lumpur.
Cost Assessment
The OCM will assess the costs for the relocation process.
Background
The lease for the 1.8-acre Wisma OCM land, established in 1991, will remain valid until 2077. Wisma OCM is located near iconic venues such as Stadium Merdeka, Stadium Negara, and the world’s second-tallest skyscraper, Merdeka 118.
SEA Games 2027
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on December 11 that the construction of the new building had been agreed upon by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh on behalf of the government.
Malaysia Kidslympic 2024
Meanwhile, National Olympic Academy of Malaysia director Nicholas Chan said the inaugural Malaysia Kidslympic event features five sports – athletics, gymnastics, volleyball, baseball/softball, and modern pentathlon – which will be contested at the SEA Games in Thailand next year.
"This programme involves children aged 12 and below, and we expect to attract around 800 participants overall by the closing ceremony tomorrow. It provides early exposure for grassroots-level athletes to experience the competition and the atmosphere of a real stadium," he said.
Conclusion
The relocation of the OCM to a new office in Bukit Jalil is a significant step towards preparing for the SEA Games 2027. The new office will provide a modern and accessible facility for the OCM and its staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is the OCM relocating to Bukit Jalil?
A: The OCM is relocating to Bukit Jalil because most sports facilities have relocated to the area, and there are accessibility challenges due to heavy traffic around Wisma OCM in central Kuala Lumpur.
Q: What will happen to the Wisma OCM land?
A: The lease for the Wisma OCM land will remain valid until 2077.
Q: What are the plans for the new office building?
A: The new office building will be developed on a five-acre plot of land adjacent to the National Hockey Stadium. Two acres will be used for the office building, while the remaining space will be allocated for parking, gardens, and training areas.
Q: What is the expected cost of the relocation process?
A: The OCM will assess the costs for the relocation process.