Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar (pic) , the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, has officially been appointed as chairman of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asian Growth Area) Sports Council board for 2013-2014.

Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid was named chairman during last week's 7th BIMP-EAGA Sports Council meeting at the East Royale Hotel in General Santos City, the Philippines - taking over the responsibility from Ricardo Garcia, the chairman of the Philippines Sports Commission and the chairman of the BIMP-EAGA Sports Council since 2011.

Among the council's main tasks are to plan, discuss and implement activities and programmes in the BIMP-EAGA region.

A press release sent by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports yesterday stated that the members of the meeting thanked Garcia for his stewardship, congratulated Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid for his appointment and promised the council of their continued support.

The meeting agreed to improve the standard of the Games to provide athletes with the exposure they need to prepare themselves for regional and international meets such as the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. It was also agreed that youth, cultural and business exchange programmes be held at the sidelines of future BIMP-EAGA Games

The BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games was first held in 1996 at General Santos City, which is also hosting the seventh edition this year.

Brunei have competed in all seven editions of the Games and recorded their best ever finish when hosting the 2008 edition with 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze medals.

Courtesy from Brunei Times