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Nestlé and The Malaysia Athletics Federation; A Healthy Partnership to Nurture Young Athletes

 

In its efforts to promote healthy lifestyles among the young, Nestlé Malaysia has teamed up with the Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) to train a group of selected lecturers through a programme called the International Association of Athletics Federation's Kids' Athletics Course.

The three-day programme – which took place from 16-18 of August at the National Sports Centre at Bukit Jalil – saw the participation of 32 lecturers and coaches combined, who were given an insight to educating children about sports in general; encouraging physical activity; and also the importance of a balanced and healthy lifestyle; all of which to help attract, develop and sustain future athletes within the school community. Nominated by state affiliates, these participant lecturers and coaches consist of former national athletes, active trainers, doctors and teachers.

The initiative is carried out in support of the five-year global partnership between Nestlé and the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF), which began in January 2012, where Nestlé is the main sponsor of the IAAF Kids' Athletics programme, one of the biggest grassroots development programmes in the world of sports. The Programme will help develop and strengthen the physical activity component in the Nestlé Healthy Kids programmes in selected markets.

"We are proud to be working with the Malaysia Athletics Federation in supporting and executing the Kids' Athletics programme in Malaysia. By supporting the Kids’ Athletics programme, we believe that this partnership will further enhance the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme in Malaysia, which aims to improve nutrition knowledge and promote active lifestyle among school children," said Nestlé Malaysia’s Executive Director, Human Resource and Group Corporate Affairs, Puan Zainun Nur Abdul Rauf.

 

"With the shared belief that physical activity is important to one's health, we support Malaysia Athletics Federation in its aim to reach out to 201,600 students, in hopes to nurture them to become healthy and active individuals, and guide them to become successful athletes," added Puan Zainun.

The three-day programme culminated in a Kids’ Athletics competition involving more than 50 school children from one of the intervention schools under the Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme, which aims to improve nutrition knowledge and promote active lifestyles among school children aged 7 to 12 years in Malaysia. The competition also saw participation of National athletes such as Lee Hup Wei, Norseela Mohd. Khalid, Noor Amira Mohammad Nafiah, Lo Choon Sieng, Kanathasan Subramaniam, Adi Aliffudin and Tan Song Hwa, who assisted the children with the different athletic disciplines.

"We are delighted and grateful to be partnering Nestlé Malaysia on our quest to strengthen the quality of education of local lecturers and coaches, thus improving the standard and training in athletics for local primary school pupils," said Dato’ Zainal Abidin bin Hj. Ahmad, President of Malaysia Athletics Federation.

The Malaysia Athletics Federation was formed to ensure that the necessary physical environment and facilities are in place to nurture athletes and instill within them the calibre, mental strength and skills to excel in the international arena.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Tunku Putri Nur Asma Tunku Ja'afar / Ms. Rose-Azrin Dahlan
WestCoast Public Relations Sdn Bhd
Tel: (+603) 7954 4505
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Ms. Immy Ooi
Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad
Tel: (+603) 7965 6729
Email: [email protected]