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Wear national colours with pride at Tokyo Olympics, athletes told
Sunday, July 18, 2021
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His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin with the athletes and other officials in a group photo. PHOTO: BAHYIAH BAKIR


Brunei Darussalam will send two athletes and five officials to participate in the 32nd Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan – set to take place from July 23 to August 8.

A national flag handing over ceremony was held at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium yesterday, where His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) presented the national flag to Chef de Mission of Brunei Darussalam Contingent to the 32nd Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 Umi Kalthum binti Haji Abdul Karim.

National sprinter Mohd Firdaus Ar-Rasyid bin Haji Mohd Idris, who will compete in the men’s 200-metre, and national swimmer Muhammad Isa bin Haji Ahmad, who will compete in the men’s 100-metre breaststroke, are carrying the country’s name at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

A recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah commenced the event led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin expressed his gratitude to 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 for the consent to allow Brunei Darussalam to participate in the 32nd Olympic Games.

The minister said the athletes must be proud in flying the national flag in Tokyo, adding that “the athletes are on the right platform to further improve their national performance record at international level. Insya Allah, with commitment and professionalism, both athletes are prepared to achieve the best”.

Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan told the athletes, “Nothing is impossible in attaining excellence and bringing the country’s reputation to a higher level.

“However, it is important to comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines enforced by the authority in the country and in Tokyo. Adhere to the guidelines of the Olympic ‘Bubble’ at all times, avoid mixing with other athletes from other countries, wear face mask and practice social distancing at all times, as suggested by the organisers,” the minister said.

This year marks the sixth participation of Brunei Darussalam in the Olympic Games. The last participation was in 2016 during the 31st Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Attorney General Haji Ahmad bin Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa; Permanent Secretary (Administration, Finance and Estate) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud; Deputy Chief of Mission at the Japanese Embassy in Brunei Darussalam Kakuta Hiromi; the national athletes assessment and selection executive committee and national sports associations’ members; MCYS officers; and athletes’ family members were present.

Courtesy from Borneo Bulletin