| James Kon |
OVER 6,000 people from all walks of life yesterday gathered in all four districts to participate in the Royal Birthday Run 2016 organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) with cooperation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and Ministry of Health (MoH) in conjunction with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 70th birthday celebration.
The Brunei-Muara District had the largest number of registration with a total of 4,376 participants ready to run at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.
Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education as the guest of honour officiated the run in the Brunei-Muara District.
The minister was joined by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs.
Also in attendance were First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, the Deputy Minister of Defence; Dato Paduka Haji Md Roselan Haji Md Daud, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Education; Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih Abdullah, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Commander and other officials.
Before starting off the run, invited guests and participants took part in a 10-minute warm up session.
Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education, officiating the start of the Royal Birthday Run 2016 for the men’s open category. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education and guest of honour of the Royal Birthday Run 2016; Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs; and other officials during the 10-minute warm up session.
Participants of the female youth category.
Participants of the male youth category.
Apart from celebrating His Majesty’s 70th birthday, the run also aimed to encourage members of the public to practice a healthy lifestyle through the involvement of sports and recreational activities as well as working together to further build on the progress of sports in the nation.
It is also hoped that the activity would unite the various communities.
There were six categories contested in the run – the 10km men’s open category for 18 years and above (born in 1997 or below); 10km women’s open category 18 years and above (born in 1997 or earlier); the men teens category of 17 years old or below (born in 1998 or later); teenage women category of 17 years old and below (born in 1998 or earlier); people with special needs category (visually impaired, wheelchair bound, hearing and intellectual disability) with a distance of 3km and a fun run category (public participation without age limit) covering 3km.
Prizes were provided for the men’s and women’s open 18 years and above in all districts.
The winners of the first, second and third places received cash of $1,000, $800 and $600 respectively with a medal and a certificate of participation.
For the men and women category 17 years and below, they received $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third with a medal and a certificate.
Winners in special needs category each received $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third with medals and certificates of participation.
The MCYS will continue its effort to carry out sporting projects for the communities. Through the Royal Birthday Run 2016 the ministry is aimed at instilling a healthy lifestyle with running activities and to revive the sports of running in the country.
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