Brunei Darussalam National
Olympic Council (BDNOC)
president HRH Prince Hj Sufri
Bolkiah (R) and Minister of Culture,
Youth and Sports Pehin Orang
Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato
Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah
(2nd from right) attend a meeting
held at the Conference Room of
the Hassanal Bolkiah National
Stadium in Berakas yesterday.
Picture: Infofoto

Brunei has already started preparing for the London Olympics and Asian Beach Games.

The most acclaimed of any multi-sport event, the 30th edition of the Olympics will run from July 27-Aug 12 while the 3rd installation of the Asian Beach Games will be held from June 16-22 in the Chinese coastal city of Haiyang.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports yesterday held a meeting at the Conference Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas to discuss the country's participation in both the events.

The president of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah was present, as was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah and other officials from the ministry.

The meeting was chaired by the ministry's permanent secretary Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar.

The committee is in charge of deciding which athletes represent Brunei in any contingent the country sends to regional and international tournaments and receives input from various sources.

Among those seen outside the closed-door meeting were representatives of the Brunei Darussalam Sepak Takraw Association (Pestabaru).

Brunei's sepak takraw team finished the 2nd Asian Beach Games in Muscat, Oman, in 2010 with joint-bronze in the inter-regu category, repeating the feat they achieved at the inaugural edition in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008.

Though the Sultanate did not send any representatives to the 2008 Olympics due to unforeseen circumstances, it is good to know that the ministry is already working hard to make sure there won't be another repeat of the Beijing fiasco.

Swimmer Anderson Lim Chee Wei and hurdler Maziah Mahusin were awarded London 2012 Olympic Scholarships last September, so it won't be out of the question if we see them flying the flag for Brunei in London come July.

Courtesy from Brunei Times