The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah (R), presenting a certificate of participation to one of the participants of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council Seminar for Young Athletes which concluded at the Lecture Theatre of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas yesterday. BDNOC vice-president Col (Rtd) Pg Kamal Bashah Pg Hj Ahmad (2nd R) said he hoped to see more of such seminars organised in the future. Picture: BT/Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
Twenty-seven national athletes yesterday received their certificates of participation after completing a five-day seminar organised by the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council. Picture: BT/Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
The Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council Seminar for Young Athletes concluded yesterday as 27 athletes received their certificates of participation at the Lecture Theatre of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
Present as the guest of honour to officiate the closing of the five-day seminar was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah.
Also present at yesterday's closing ceremony was the Deputy Minister Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman and other senior officials from the ministry and Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council. More than 10 lectures were presented by facilitators from BDNOC and the ministry throughout the seminar.
The topics included sports medicine, sports nutrition, sports as a career, sports psychology and sports physiology. Emphasis was also placed on anti-doping, Olympic values and as well as the roles and function of the National Valuation and Selection Committee for athletes.
The athletes who sat for the seminar were those expected to represent the country at multi-sport tournaments such as the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and Asian Games. "I believe that we have successfully achieved the objective that was set for this seminar, which was to expose the athletes to a number of lectures, discussions and educational trips and visits," said BDNOC vice-president Col (Rtd) Pg Kamal Bashah Pg Hj Ahmad in his welcoming speech yesterday.
"All the athletes and the participants have shown great commitment and teamwork throughout the seminar, even though they are from different kind of sports. "In line with the sabda of His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the BDNOC during the launching of the seminar on Monday, I would like to remind the athletes to continue practice Olympic values such as respect, fair play and discipline in sports," added Col (Rtd) Pg Kamal Bashah.
The BDNOC vice-president also hoped that more similar seminars would be organised in the near future. "I hope that we will be able to hold another seminar, but this time for the head or president of every sports association as well as the sports officers in the country," said Col (Rtd) Pg Kamal Bashah.
"This will help us to strategise and organise our preparation for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that we will be hosting in 2019," he pointed out. One of the participants of the seminar, Captain Pg Razif Pg Hj Idros agreed that the seminar should be held again in the future.
"We should be proud as Bruneians that we are capable of organising this kind of seminar," he said. "I would like to thank the organisers, the facilitators and other people who have been involved in organising this," added Captain Pg Razif.
Organised by BDNOC in cooperation with the Department of Youth and Sports, the seminar was held in conjunction with BDNOC's 30th anniversary and carried the theme "Bridging the Gap: Synergy Towards Success".
