| Achong Tanjong |
BRUNEI Darussalam, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), in collaboration with the Brunei Darussalam national sports associations will again host the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Northern Territory – East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMPNT-EAGA) Friendship Games from December 7 – 9.
This will be the 10th edition of the biennial sporting event, held in rotation between the four BIMP-EAGA member countries.
Permanent Secretary at the MCYS Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil said this at a press conference at the MCYS building yesterday.
Acting Director of Youth and Sports Haji Zafri bin Haji Mohamed, who is also Chairman of the working committee for the games and Acting Deputy Director of Youth and Sports Mariam binti Ulat, the Head of the Working Committee Secretariat for the Games, were also present.
“We invite members of the public to come to the event and provide moral support to our local athletes participating in the games,” Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila said, adding that the Brunei contingent is undergoing centralised training as part of preparations for the event.
Brunei Darussalam last hosted the games – its sixth iteration – in November 2008.
“The games aim to strengthen friendship among members of BIMPNT-EAGA and athletes towards the achievement of solidarity, understanding and cooperation between the participating countries,” Haji Zafri said. He added that this year’s event will involve 13 contingents from the four BIMP-EAGA member countries – Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines, and the Northern Territory of Australia.
This will be the first time a team from the Northern Territory is fully competing in the games, after they were accepted by the BIMP-EAGA Sports Council as members last year, Haji Zafri said.
“Brunei Darussalam will be represented by two teams – Brunei Darussalam ‘A’ and Brunei Darussalam ‘B’ – while the other teams will be South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Sabah, Sarawak, Federal Territory of Labuan, Mindanao, Palawan and Northern Territory,” he added.
Eight events will be contested in during the games: aquatics, lawn bowls, karatedo, athletics, pencak silat, sepak takraw, taekwondo and wushu.
Some 993 participants, officers and coaches from the 13 contingents will be involved in this year’s games, with 272 medals up for grabs – 87 gold, 87 and 98 bronze, Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila said.
Brunei’s contingent will consist over 140 athletes and team members.
A number of sideline activities will be held for the event, including a flag-hoisting ceremony on December 6 at Pedestrian Mall, Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex; the opening ceremony on December 7 at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex; a reception dinner on December 8 at Tarindak D’Seni in the capital; and a closing ceremony on December 9 at the Indoor Stadium.
A VIP Golf Championship will also be held on December 7 at the Pantai Mentiri Golf Club, as well as a VIP Badminton Tournament on December 8 at the multi-purpose hall of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah School.
BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games posters were handed out by Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila to attending sports representatives during the press conference.