Sports Ministers and presidents of
National Olympic Committees
(NOC) attending the 2nd World
Olympic Sports Convention
held in Moscow from April
16-17.Picture: Courtesy of
the Ministry of Culture, Youth
and Sports

Sports play an important role in the development of a country's education, health and economy.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah said this during the 2nd World Olympic Sports Convention which came to a close on Tuesday in Moscow.

His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council was also in attendance at the April 16-17 event.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Vice-President of Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) who is also the President of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) chaired the convention.

The convention was attended by Sports Ministers and presidents of National Olympic Committees (NOC) from all five continents.

Included in the discussions were the London 2012 Olympics picture presented by British Sports Minister Sir Hugh Robertson and the 2014 Winter Olympics (SOCHI) presented by Alexander Zhukov, the president of the Russian National Olympic Council.

It touched on several issues in the development of sports in the global scene and Pehin Dato Hj Hazair also shared his sentiments in his statement.

The minister said that mutual respect and cooperation, especially between the government and NOCs, is the key factor in producing results on a national sports policy.

Pehin Dato Hj Hazair said that the ministry has always supported and cooperated with non-governmental organisations, such as the Brunei National Olympic Committee (BNOC), to promote sports in the country in the form of financial aid, facilities, organisation of events and courses.

The minister also stressed on the importance of youths' involvement in sports.

He used the recently concluded Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy as an example.

The competition helped bring the ASEAN youths together through healthy competition.

Pehin Dato Hj Hazair added on how the champions have become role models to the teenagers and youths for anti-smoking, anti-drugs and healthy living campaigns.

The minister and the delegates also attended a reception with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at the Kremlin in Russia.

Brunei will be sending at least two athletes for the July 27- Aug 12 London 2012 Olympics.

The Sultanate will be competing in the Olympics because of universality places which the world governing bodies for athletics and swimming, the International Association of Athletics Federation and International Swimming Federation respectively; have provided to countries with no qualified athletes.

Chances are that swimmer Anderson Lim Chee Wei and hurdler Maziah Mahusin will be flying the flag for Brunei at the event.

The duo were awarded London 2012 Olympic Scholarships last September and have regularly represented the country over the past couple of years.

Courtesy from Brunei Times