In his address, Namgyal emphasized the importance of educating young athletes about the risks associated with breaches of sporting integrity.
“At the Olympic Council of Asia, we are steadfast in our mission to ensure that our Games and competitions are free from manipulation. That is why it is extremely important to raise awareness, especially among the youth. Camps like this are a perfect opportunity to explain to them the risks of competition manipulation and the sanctions associated with it,” said Namgyal.
He noted that many athletes and their entourages often do not realize the seriousness of the consequences until sanctions are actually imposed.
“Very often, we notice that athletes, coaches, and entourage members are unaware of the sanctions in place. They only realize the gravity of these measures once they have been caught and the sanctions are enforced. By that point, the consequences are so severe that they are difficult to fully comprehend. That is why education is essential and this is what we have been doing from the very beginning,” Namgyal explained.
He also spoke about the Guarding the Asian Games initiative launched by the OCA, which educates athletes and entourage members on anti-doping, safeguarding, and the prevention of competition manipulation.
“This goes beyond the field of play — such programs help shape young athletes into future leaders in the world of sport,” he added.
When asked about the best age to begin teaching athletes about fair play, Namgyal said there are no strict age limits.
“To be honest, I don’t think there is an age limit. The earlier we start, the better, because when they grow older, they will already have some understanding, thinking, I’ve learned about this before; this is right, that is wrong, and this is not what we should do. It’s important not to start too early, when they are not yet able to understand what we are trying to convey,” he explained.
In his view, the ideal age range for such programs is between 11 and 15 years old.
“For example, in camps like this, where participants are aged between 11 and 14 or 11 and 15 — I believe that is the ideal age,” concluded the OCA representative.
The figure skating training camp is currently underway in Harbin. It is organized by the Children of Asia International Committee (CAIC), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and the International Skating Union (ISU).
