About 400 athletes from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines are taking part in the seventh BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games in General Santos City, Mindanao, the Philippines from today till Dec 11.

They are vying for honours in seven sports athletics, badminton, lawn tennis, pencak silat (artistic), sepak takraw, swimming, and table tennis.

Hosts Mindanao and Palawan will be represented by 75 athletes.

The Games themed "Developing a Culture of Peace, Friendship, and Economy through Sports" affirms harmonious interaction among member countries of the sub-regional cooperation, said Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chair secretary Luwalhati Antonino in a statement.

She said the Games provided an opportunity for interaction among member countries through sports and cultures besides trade and commerce.

Meanwhile, the first BIMP-EAGA Cultural, Tourism, and Trade Show will also be held in General Santos City in conjunction with the Games to showcase products, culture, and tourism products from participating countries.

This is the third time the Philippines plays host to the Friendship Games after the first in General Santos City in 1996 and followed by the second in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in 2003.

BIMP-EAGA is an economic cooperation formally created in 1994 covering Brunei; 10 Indonesian provinces in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Irian Jaya; Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan in Malaysia; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.

Courtesy from Brunei Times