His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) presents Brunei Darussalam national flag to the Brunei Darussalam contingent heading to the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines in a ceremony at the National Indoor stadium yesterday. Also in the photo is Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah, the captain of the Brunei Darussalam National Netball Team. PHOTOS: RAHWANI ZAHARI
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council delivering his sabda.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) and Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah during the National Flag hand over ceremony yesterday.
In the efforts towards building a solid foundation for high performance sports, stakeholders need to prepare a comprehensive sports development programme which needs to be implemented continuously and improved from time to time.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) highlighted this in a sabda delivered yesterday morning at the national flag handing ceremony at the National Indoor Stadium for the Brunei Darussalam contingent to the 30th Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in the Philippines.
Also present were Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah, the captain of the Brunei Darussalam National Netball Team; Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Abdul Badee’ bin Pengiran Kerma Raja Pengiran Haji Kamarulzaman, Assistant Coach of the Tenpin bowling squad; Faiq Jefri Bolkiah the captain of the nayional football team; and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin.
The SEA Games, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah said, “has become the main platform to assess the ability of national athletes to compete at higher levels such as the Olympic Games. In our efforts toward placing high performance sports on a solid foundation, stakeholders need to prepare a comprehensive sport development programme. The programme needs to be implemented continuously and effectively, monitored and be improved or readjusted from time to time”.
The handing over of the national flag to the Brunei Darussalam contingent, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah expressed, “has its own significance”.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah explained, “It represents the trust and high hopes of the nation and its people place on the national contingent to carry the national flag proudly at the prestigious regional sports festival while also giving their best performance towards podium finishes.”
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah stressed on the importance of athletes to have the determination and follow in the footsteps of those who have recorded accomplishments and brought glory to the country in the sporting arena.
At the same time, members of the Brunei Contingent also need to always maintain the good image of the country while at the SEA Games, whether it is inside or outside the competition arenas, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah added.
“The national flag hand over also serves as a challenge and source of inspiration for the contingent. They are given the trust to compete in the competition with high fighting spirit, to be brave and strong, to not give up easily, and to remain determined to succeed until the result is announced,” His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah said.
“These are among the characteristics needed by true elite athletes to achieve success and bring glory to the country.”
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah fully believes the athletes, coaches, managers and officers of the contingent’s secretariat have done well with the preparations to ensure the participation of the country to the 30th SEA Games will be more successful than the previous editions.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah also understands that the chosen athletes have already carried out intensive training outside the country with athletes who are more experienced regionally and internationally.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah truly hopes that the opportunity given will be utilised fully and at the same time show maximum performance in the competition arenas of the SEA Games.
In addition, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah reminds the athletes to always maintain their discipline and stay away from banned substances and comply to the acts and regulations enforced by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
