My name is André Mueller, sport student of the University Magdeburg who did submit his Master Thesis just a few hours ago. And now I have my bag full of ideas to make the citizens of Malaysia move. Now, someone could ask: Why Malaysia? The answer seems simple: After some shaping trips to “Truly Asia” I was amazed due its culture and the warmth of the people. Secondly, I perceived in a more scientific way that Malaysia has a lot of potential to develop in terms of “Sport for all”. In relation to this observation I said to myself, that I might be able to initiate sportive lifestyle in this beautiful multicultural country.
And now I begin my 15 weeks journey to get some insights into the sport system of Malaysia. At first, I will attend a scientific conference on 23./24. June in the Universiti Malaya, where I have the ultimate chance to present some results of my recent study in Magdeburg, which did try to read the urban space as a platform for sportive unfolding.
Afterwards, I am going to do a three-month internship in the „National Sport Institute Malaysia“, where I will be a part of an unit which research turns around the topic “physical activity for the people”. I am looking forward to experience challenging and interesting weeks.
The last part of every short report will be considered as „scientific corner“. Here I want to briefly explain the practical and also scientific relevance of the sport development in Malaysia. In general, the people of Malaysia are not adequately physically active. Some trials proved this already. An outcome of the lack of sportive participation can be seen in an increasing incidence of obesity respectively diabetes. A situation with alarming potential especially for the health sector. One of the main reasons for the obvious sedentary behavior is the fact that the sport system actually, does not deliver health oriented concepts or offers or everyone. The implementation of “Rehabilitation sport” for handicapped or injured citizens like in Germany is far from realization.
Concerning scientific projects we could ask several questions: What do the people in Malaysia want to paricipate in physcial activity (motifs)? What terms and condition do they face? How is it possible to implement certain ideas? And so on….
There are a lot of things to do…
Sportive regards,
André Müller