One of the participants from
Brunei B in action during the
preliminary rounds of the Special
Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce
Competition yesterday.Picture:
BT/ Yee Chun Leong

Everyone will end up a winner at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce Competition (SOAPBC) held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

This was said by Pg May Fazura Pg Hj Radin Hanafi, the Director of Family Network Special Olympics Brunei Darussalam (SOBD), in an interview with The Brunei Times, during the first day of the four-day tournament yesterday.

"It is not about winning but about what these athletes can achieve which adheres to the motto of SOBD," said Pg May.

She was referring to the Special Olympics oath: "Let me win, But if I cannot win, Let me be brave in the attempt."

Four countries hosts Brunei, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines are competing in the tournament which the country is hosting for the third time since its inception in 2005.

It aims to foster sportsmanship amongst special athletes in the Asia Pacific region and also promote a healthy lifestyle amongst the participants.

Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah is expected to grace the opening ceremony today at 3pm.

Besides the competition, the Healthy Athlete Train the Trainer in Health Promotion workshop also commenced yesterday at the Health Promotion Centre in Berakas.

The participants will be certified by the Special Olympics International (SO), following the training, as health promotion clinical directors in their respective countries and SO programmes.

They will be given the responsibility of running health promotion programmes which include screening and giving advice to individuals with intellectual disabilities, helping them adapt a healthier lifestyle.

Courtesy from Brunei Times