Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman (R) hands over the national flag to Brunei's Chef de Mission for the Commonwealth Games Mariam Ulat yesterday. Picture: BT/ Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
National cyclist Muhammad I'maadi Abd Aziz left the Sultanate to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland yesterday. Picture: BT file
The national contingent left the Sultanate yesterday to compete at the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
National cyclist Muhammad I'maadi Abd Aziz will be the sole representative for Brunei at the July 23 to August 3 event. The 22-year-old is set to take part in two track events (Point Race and Scratch) and the road race event (Mass Start). Present as the guest of honour to hand over the national flag to Chef de Mission of the national contingent Mariam Ulat yesterday was Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman.
In her speech Datin Paduka Hjh Adina reminded the athlete to be extra careful with the consumption of medicine and supplements. "Please stay away from drugs or any prohibited substances as it will not just ruin the image of the athlete but also the image of the country," said Datin Paduka Hjh Adina at the Green Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas yesterday. "I would like to advice the athlete to consult the doctor before taking in any medication or supplements so as to avoid breaching the rules and regulations of the tournament," she said.
"Anyways, I would like to say congratulations to the athlete and the coach for being chosen as the only sport to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games," she continued. "I believe that the athlete is chosen because of his hardwork and professional help from his coach through effective sports science and technology. "The athlete also passed all the criteria and guidelines that has been set by the ministry's national selection and evaluation committee, so it is expected of them to perform well and not just be there for the sake of participating," she said.
"I hope that the national contingent will be able to show their positive attitude, responsibilities and integrity at the event," she added. According to the previous report in The Brunei Times, this will be the seventh time the country will compete in the Games. The Sultanate became a member of the Commonwealth in 1984 and established a National Olympic Committee (BDNOC) the same year.
However, it was not until the 1990 edition in Auckland, New Zealand, that Brunei competed in its first Games. Since then, the Sultanate has competed in every edition of the tournament - but has yet to return with a medal. The country was only represented in lawn bowls at the last edition in New Delhi four years ago.
A total of 11 athletes - six men and five women - flew the flag for Brunei at the 2010 Games. The men competed in the singles, pairs and triples while the women laced up for the pairs and triples.
