Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports holding the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton in a group photo with Nicola Rosenblum, Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam; Haji Muhd Zamri bin Dato Paduka Haji Hamdani, the Vice-President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council; and the Queen’s Baton Relay Team. – JAMES KON
A closer look at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, receiving a token of appreciation from Nicola Rosenblum, the Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
Invited guests at the reception
THE Queen’s Baton Relay, a tradition of the Commonwealth Games, has reached Brunei Darussalam as the 55th country on a tour that is covering a total of 230,000km across 70 nations and territories in 388 days, to reach its final destination of the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, where the 2018 Commonwealth Games will take place.
In the longest relay in the history of Commonwealth Games, which started from the Buckingham Palace on March 13, the baton carries a message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as a call to athletes in Commonwealth nations and territories to unite in friendly competition.
The message will be read out at the Games’ opening ceremony on April 4, 2018.
To welcome the arrival of the Queen’s Baton to Brunei Darussalam, a reception was held at the Australian High Commissioner’s residence, where around 100 people were gathered, included including Brunei’s past and present athletes to the Commonwealth Games.
The guest of honour at the reception was Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Also in attendance was Haji Noor Jusmin bin Haji Abdul Samad and Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, the Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; Haji Muhd Zamri bin Dato Paduka Haji Hamdani, the Vice-President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council; and several foreign diplomats.
Nicola Rosenblum, the Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, said in her welcoming remarks, “The Queen’s Baton has reached Brunei at a historic moment. This month, Brunei is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of 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 Accession to the Throne.
“The anniversary marks 50 years of stability and prosperity under His Majesty’s reign.
The celebrations have been suitably momentous, as is befitting this impressive milestone. We are pleased that the Queen’s Baton Relay will contribute to these extraordinary events.”
She added, “Tomorrow morning, the Queen’s Baton Relay will proceed through the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan. As part of its journey, the baton will cross the new Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge, Brunei’s first cable-stayed bridge, officially opened as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
“After a trip through the winding paths of the iconic Kampong Ayer and crossing the river by boat and kayak, the baton will be relayed through the recently inaugurated Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas. The Baton Relay in Brunei will incorporate athletes from a wide range of sports, as well as government officials, teachers and students, young people and even a few foreign diplomats.”
During the baton’s stay in Brunei, she said, “it will also visit local schools and disability education centres, ensuring that this leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay upholds the Commonwealth values of diversity and inclusiveness”.
The Queen’s Baton arrived in Brunei on October 21, after visiting Malaysia.
A relay of runners, cyclists and kayakers will be involved in carrying it through its tour of Brunei today.
The Queen’s Baton will depart for Singapore tomorrow (October 25), for the next leg of its journey.
