The inaugural ASEAN Youth Sports Camp opened yesterday with nine countries participating.
A total of 55 participants between the ages of 16 and 21 will be taking part in one of four sports - netball, swimming, athletics or golf - at the five-day event.
Brunei make up the main bulk with 21 participants, with three from Cambodia, five from Indonesia, four from Laos, two from Malaysia, four from Philippines, five from Singapore, six from Thailand and five from Vietnam.
Athletics and swimming were chosen due to them being compulsory sports in any regional and international tournament.
Golf was picked as it is an individual and skilled sport, whereas netball is considered a popular team sport amongst women.
Participants will also be involved in cultural activities during the five days.
The main objectives of the camp are to develop the overall well-being of young people in ASEAN, particularly of the mind and body through sports activities.
They also hope to establish strategies and relevant mechanisms to support regional cooperation in sports to contribute to regional development, peace and stability.
Last on the list of aims is to improve participants' sports skills whilst having fun with one another.
Guest of honour, acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman officiated the camp by hitting a gong after her speech.
"The ministry is honoured to be given this opportunity to organise the first ASEAN Youth Sports Camp to celebrate ASEAN Sports Industry Year 2013 as declared by ASEAN leaders during the ASEAN Summit in 2012," Datin Hjh Adina said in her speech.
"The increased participation of our community in sports can boost economic activity in the sports industry.
"Alhamdulillah, Brunei is also experiencing a boom in Sport for All, as evidenced by the escalation in the number of sports activities organised by the community," said Datin Hjh Adina during the opening ceremony at the Orchid Garden Hotel in Berakas, referring not only to sports such as netball or basketball but also runs and walkathons.
"We will be working closely with member countries to ensure the integrity of sports ethics, respect for each other and access to sports as a fundamental right," said Datin Hjh Adina.
"We are strongly committed to propagating, promoting and implementing the policies of the World Anti-Doping Agency in their true spirit. We are also committed to educating people about the issues, dangers and consequences of doping," she added.
