MALAYSIAN SPORTS INDUSTRY CONVENTION

KISMAS 2009 or as it is known, Malaysia Sports Industry Convention 2009 will commence tomorrow at the Berjaya Times Square Convention Centre, KL. Sadly there has not been much coverage of this event that could provide fresh impetus for our sports industry that has only been result driven ever since the 1998 Commonwealth Games

The opening speaker for the convention is Martin Toomey. Marty is SPARC's High Performance Manager, and is directly accountable for the implementation of SPARC's high performance strategy. Before joining SPARC in 2002, he was a Performance Director with the New Zealand Sports Foundation. He worked as Fitness Trainer with Team New Zealand (1998-2000) and the All Blacks (1994-1999). Early in his career, he established and led the Human Performance Centre at Otago University (1989-1996). Immediately after graduating with a Masters Degrees in Physical Education, Marty worked as a raft guide, white-water canoeing instructor and ski guide. He remains a keen recreational skier, cyclist and runner. He lives in Wellington with his wife and 2 children.

Another keynote speaker is Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich, founder and president of the United States Sports Academy, has been a major figure in sport around the world for over 40 years as a coach and an educator. Interestingly Rosandich was a national track coach for Malaya, Laos, Singapore, Borneo, and Indonesia in Olympiads from the 1956 Games in Melbourne to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He was a consultant for the Panamanian Olympic Team in 1968, attended the 1972 Munich Olympics as a consultant for the Philippines, and was a Bahrain representative at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. In 1995 Dr. Rosandich was Team Leader of the U.S. Team Handball teams at the Pan American Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dr. Rosandich was also responsible for the founding of what is now called the South East Asia (SEA) Games. He founded the United States Sports Academy in 1972. He has served as its Chief Executive Officer since 1976. He presently serves on the USOC's Education Committee, the Athlete Identification and Development Committee, and the International Relations Committee.

In 1997, Dr. Rosandich received the highest award of the International Olympic Committee, The Olympic Order. The Olympic Order is "bestowed upon persons who have illustrated the Olympic ideal through his action, has achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world, or has rendered outstanding services to the Olympic cause."

Friday, August 7th 2009

9:00am - 10:30am
1) Keynote: The Impact of the Sports Industry on a Nation’s Performance
Speaker : Mr. Martin Toomey
General Manager for High Performance in New Zealand (SPARC).

11:30am - 12:30pm
2) Keynote Address by: The Most Honorable Prime Minister
Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Abdul Razak

2:45pm - 3.45pm
3) Keynote: Sports Education – Empowering the Industry
Speaker: Dr. T.J. Rosandich (United States Sports Academy, USA)
Chairperson: Y.Bhg. Dato’ Nik Mahmud bin Nik Yusoff (PJS)

3:45pm - 4:45pm
4) Panel Discussion: Business Strategies in Sports Industry - The Malaysian Scenario
Panels:
a) Y.Bhg. Dato’ Radha Krishnan (UFL)
b) Y.Bhg. Dato’ Dina Rizal (SportsUnite)
Chairperson: Y.Bhg. Dato’ Syed Nadzri (NSTP)

4:45pm - 5:30pm
5) Panel Discussion: Sports Medicine & Sports Science in Malaysia - Ringing the Changes
Panels:
a) Dr. Khairi Zawi (UiTM)
b) Assoc. Prof. Dr. John George (UM)
Chairperson: Prof. Rabindarjeet Singh (USM)

5:30pm - 6:15pm
6) Panel Discussion: Sports Marketing and Media Strategies in a Challenging Economy
Panels:
a) En. Azran Osman Rani, CEO AirAsia X Sdn. Bhd.
b) Mr. Manu Sawhney, ESPN STAR Sports
Chairperson: Mr. Sanjay Raina, VP Marketing Astro


Saturday, August 8th

9:00am - 10:00am
7) Keynote: Managing the Commercialization and Maintenance of Sports Facilities
Speaker: a) Mr. Steve Jones (Australia Institute of Sports)
Chairperson: YBhg Dato' Abd Wahab Maskan (Sime Darby Berhad)

10:00am - 11:00am
8) Panel Discussion: Optimizing Private Enterprise in Sports Development
Speakers:
a) Mr. Ted Meekma (Consultant Sime Darby, formerly IMG)
b) YAM Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Jaafar (Sports Excel)
Chairperson: Y.Bhg. RAdm Dato’ Pahlawan Danyal Balagopal Abdullah (Deerama Corp)

11:00am—12:00pm
9) Panel Discussion: Event Management and Sports Tourism - Marketing Destinations Through Sports
Panels:
a) Mr. Keld Kristiansen (Carbon Worldwide)
b) Y.Bhg. Dato’ Peter Gilmore (T-Best)
Chairperson: Puan Wan Zaleha Radzi (Asia Promote)

12:00pm - 1:00pm
CLOSING :
Luncheon Address by The Honourable Youth & Sports Minister
YB. Dato’ Ahmad Shabery Cheek