Participants during the Olympic Day Run held at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas yesterday. A total of 2000 runners took part in the one-day event. BT/Zul Zainal
Organisers deemed yesterday's Olympic Day Run a success after not a single incident or injury was reported.
Held in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC), the 5km run was participated by 2000 runners. Speaking to The Brunei Times after the run, BDNOC's Assistant Secretary General said he was delighted that no runners were injured.
"Usually at events like these there would be a few people who experience minor injuries like cramped muscles or light dizziness," said Major (Rtd) Talip Tahir. "But surprisingly today, our medical team and officers did not receive any injury or incidents reports throughout the race," he added.
Guest of honour and appointed representative of BDNOC President His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah, flagged off the run at 7:15am.
The day started out with a mass warm up session at 6:45am before the run started at the Pedestrian Mall of the Indoor Stadium at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas. The run was open to everyone of all ages and was structured to promote the participation of sports by men, women and children, regardless of their athletic ability.
The event, organised annually by the BDNOC in co-operation with the Department of Youth and Sports, is to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympics on June 23, 1894 in Paris. Hj Ibrahim Hj Ali Nordin, a 38-year-old local salesman who participated with his family, said that he had fun running with his wife and children, going on to stress the importance of running to young children.
"Competitive races are good self-development tools, but every now and then, these types of fun run events are great also because what matters today is the run itself, not the final result or the fastest time," said Hj Ibrahim.
"Teaching our children the importance of participation and sportsmanship is sometimes more important than teaching them how to be victorious in a race," he added. After the run, participants headed to the Indoor Stadium for the event's lucky draw.
Some also visited the anti-doping outreach booth which was set up by the Brunei Darussalam Anti-Doping Committee (BDADC).
