One month of life in Australia, it's been a great experience; and not to mention I have learn a lot this time. Competing at the ITU World Championship was not easy, as it's not some hanky-panky race that anyone can imagine. The Australian Uni Games was fun, totally something different than I expected. But after all, I had a great time along with all the challenges I overcame.
Besides, behind all these great times and achievements there has been the downside of it as well. And I never thought how terrible this is to me and others; it is a total disappointment. My trip was all funded by Curtin University of both Perth and Miri's campus, which I am grateful. But in the end, due to the delay of booking resulted under-budget as prices of flights and hotel increased closer to travel period. It was never expected that such a simple task can be delayed due to management's policy and procedures; likewise, it is said this is just another typical Malaysian culture.
So, by the time I was in Gold Coast for ITU World Champ the domestic flight tickets between Brisbane and Perth were still not being purchased. Initially I had already planned earlier to travel back to Perth for 2 weeks before Australian Uni Games, which the Uni Games was 2 weeks later after ITU World Championship. This was basically help to cut cost by not traveling back to Malaysia back and forth, as it would cost highly and timely too. So it was all included in the calculated and approved budget, and it was their responsibility to make all the necessary bookings and arrangements. Yet, the ticket to Perth was only purchased the day before the World Championship.
I was pretty stress out actually, I couldn't focus well in my race having to worry all the bookings were not done appropriately. I had to chase after emails and do all the follow-up by myself, and having to race at World Championship I needed to get my race arrangement done too. It was a totally hectic week the moment I arrived in Gold Coast, and I was not happy with the situation I had to encountered especially with the domestic flight issue.
And when they finally purchased the ticket to Perth, I felt a relief so I wouldn't have to get stuck in Gold Coast that weekend. But, they only purchased one way ticket and not both ways because they were short of RM$700. So verbally, they told me they would work it out next 2 weeks to get me back to Gold Coast for Uni Games. In the end, it turn out uglier than I expected.
The return ticket was costing at RM$2315, one way only, when both ways only cost RM$2400 and they didn't purchase it fully because there was a short of RM$700. And coincidently, the week before Australian Uni Games was Hari Raya which happen that most people were on leaves in Curtin Miri. So that meant nobody was gonna get me my flight; I got an email from one of them saying needed to wait till everybody is back to work by the following week after Hari Raya. I was so pissed, absolutely pissed, when I saw the email written that way because it was so clear before that the Australian Uni Games was the following week. Hence, I knew something fishy was wrong. Did they actually pay attention to my schedule written in the proposed budget and competition details? Were they trying to twist story and run away from the situation? Being irresponsible? But it got even more interesting as time went along.
So I typed and email to Curtin Perth's EAFU coordinator and Uni Games coordinator; I told them I had to make a decision that if Curtin Miri couldn't get me the flight back to Gold Coast I would have to forfeit from Uni Games and return to Miri from Perth by AirAsia. I personally did not have the money to afford the flight back to Brisbane, I only had the right amount to survive in Australia for a month. Then, I was called up to attend a meeting with the coordinators in Curtin Bentley which it got very interesting during the meeting.
Firstly, the coordinators were telling me there was no representation of Curtin at ITU World Championship because I was not wearing the cycling jersey given during the race and neither of Curtin appeared on my tri-suit, and the achievement I made was more likely a personal achievement; and the following they said since if I was gonna forfeit from the Uni Games, I have to refund the amount sponsored because out of 3 designated competitions (ITU World Champ, Ananconda Adventure Race, & Uni Games) I only competed one. So that statement really confused me at first; because they mentioned I did not represent Curtin at ITU World Champ and in the end said outta 3 competitions I only represented ONE (ITU World Championship) which I went speechless for a moment. The cycling jersey was clearly to be meant for the Uni Games because I was gonna compete in the Cycling event; which also to define "cycling" jersey is meant for "cycling" event, and not triathlon.
My thought was; how could I wear the cycling jersey at a triathlon world championship because ITU has a set of uniform rules. This is a triathlon world championship organised by International Triathlon Union (ITU), and they are very strict. Even on my tri-suit, very limited amount of spaces are given to allocate sponsor's representation and it's very costly to get the printings done which was not included in the budget. I was competing in my tri-suit from previous sponsorship, as Curtin only gave me a cycling jersey for the Uni Games, and I even wore that cycling jersey during the open ceremony.
So, what was the actual point of saying I did not represent Curtin at ITU World Championship? Just an excuse or reason to get the funded money back? You be the judge of that. Then, the coordinators suggested that I better get someone to help me out to get the flight ticket back to Brisbane and get Curtin Miri to reimburse upon return; which I could see no guaranteed.
So after the meeting, I typed an email back to Curtin Miri regarding the situation if I do not make it to Uni Games I had to refund the total amount funded back to Curtin Perth and yet there was no reply not until a week later when I was in Gold Coast where they mentioned Curtin Miri could not fund anymore and will only explain why when I return to Miri. So at the end, I had to request a help from a friend of mine to purchase a ticket back to Brisbane to get to Uni Games; which means I BORROWED money to do so, so I am in debt of RM$2315!!! I was shocked when I saw the email from Curtin Miri while I was in Gold Coast; my mood was just being ruined and had no motivation to race at all because having to be in debt is really a burden and pressure.
After the Uni Games, I came back to Miri and attended a meeting on Monday morning. And, I was even stunned by what were being mentioned; they did not see how competing in ITU World Championship is a representation for Curtin (same point mentioned as Curtin Perth), and did not know this race is included in the budget as Uni Games was the only designated race (Wow!!!). So I got even more confused and stunned this time by the fact that there has been a big twist and turn of story and also pretending. And, Curtin Miri could not reimburse the amount for the return flight ticket to Brisbane because there is no more budget and couldn't justify why I had to go to Perth. I was just too shocked, because during the previous meetings it was mentioned clearly that staying in Perth will help to cut cost and traveling time, which was being approved in the budget.
I am really disappointed with how things have turn out; before I traveled to Australia, the races were stated clearly in the budget and schedule details (ITU Triathlon World Championship and Australian Uni Games) which was being approved, and the coordinators even made numerous confirmations where it was all out in the press media too. Then now, I am being criticized at some point by using the issue where I did not wear the jersey during the race in ITU Triathlon World Championship. Even before I left for Australia, in numerous meetings these races were mentioned clearly that I was gonna compete and I even get well wishes from everyone. And now, how can they pretend that they do not know I was gonna compete at ITU World Championship? Again, everything was stated clearly in the budget and schedule before it got approved and if not I would have not received so much money to go to Australia.
It feels unfair and really disappointed, because I was not the only one who raced in ITU Triathlon World Championship from Curtin University. Andrew Tyack who was racing in the sprint category and did not wear the cycling jersey during the race as well, yet he wasn't being criticised. And furthermore, the Curtin newsletter was published today and where they congratulated Andrew for competing in ITU World Championships Sprint Category and Ananconda Adventure Race, while I did not get any words for competing in the ITU Triathlon World Championship Olympic Distance (742th overall over 2000 triathletes and Uni Games (18th Time Trial). Andrew and I are both funded by Curtin to compete at the 3 designated races; which are ITU Triathlon World Championship, Anaconda Adventure Race and Australian Uni Games. So both of us are equaled that we competed 2 out of 3; and yet, I was the one being criticized of competing at ITU Triathlon World Championship was a personal achievement and not a representation for Curtin. Then being left to be responsible for the cost of debt; just because they are out of budget and delayed all the bookings which put the troubles onto me by pushing the faults onto me as well. How irresponsible is that?
So now that I am in debt of RM$2315, which feels a burden to me and I gotta find a way to work this out as Curtin Miri wouldn't reimburse. After all these problems that I see of how they push problems and avoid the fact from one and another; it does tell me how unreliable this sponsorship is. I am totally disappointed, so as many. Should I continue to represent Curtin and still market the EAFU Program for them? I doubt it, as I am thinking twice because I do not wish other athletes to go through the same thing as I did. It is just terrible, as this has really distracted me from focusing from the races.
After all, who is it to blame? To many of you out there, you know who and I don't have to spill it out. This is my blog and I write whatever I want where this is a freedom to write and speak out my mind in my own writings, this is a disclaimer to all readers before someone tries to sue me over this.
No comments:
Post a Comment