BID FOR OLYMPICS

21/09/1998

PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said Malaysiawould bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games now that they have successfullystaged the 16th Commonwealth Games. He said Kuala Lumpur would `register its willingness' with theInternational Olympic Committee to host the world's biggest sportsfestival. "I doubt whether we can succeed (in our bid) but we will make a bidanyway," he said when asked if Malaysia would make a bid. Dr Mahathir said there are, however, certain strict conditions before acountry can play hosts. "Like the need to have a good number of athletes to compete againstworld-class sportsmen and women. We cannot just be hosts with noparticipation," he said at a Press conference after visiting the Games'Main Press Centre at the Mint Hotel. "This is a little bit more difficult to produce than building stadiums." International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch saidduring his visit to Malaysia last week that to host the Olympics, a nationneeded not only good facilities but also a sizeable number of world-classathletes. Sydney will host the 2000 Olympics while Athens are the hosts in 2004. Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir praised the Malaysian contingent, saying they haddone well by surpassing the medal target set for them. The Malaysian athletes were set a target of seven gold medals, whichthey have achieved on the penultimate day of competition. Two more gold medals are assured on the final day today - from the all-Malaysian men's singles and doubles badminton finals. "I did not expect them to win that many medals, especially gold," saidDr Mahathir. "I was rather pessimistic and thought we would have enough problemsbeing hosts and won't be able to win medals." Dr Mahathir said the Games had gone on much better than expected. "Somebody told me that they regret the Games is coming to an endtomorrow. Everybody seems to be enjoying themselves." The Prime Minister said he was seriously thinking of declaring a publicholiday as a reward for the successful staging of the Games and the goodperformance of the Malaysian contingent. "I do not know when but (ideally) on Saturday so that everyone will havea long weekend. But I might have to declare an earlier date, perhaps mid-week."