His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC), at the event
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah, Team Manager of the Mixed Polo team; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; and Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah at the opening ceremony of the 29th SEA Games. – PHOTOS: AFP, AP, BERNAMA & INFOFOTO
Athletes and officials of Brunei Darussalam march during the opening ceremony of the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur last night. – AFP
Flames from the SEA Games torch light up the stadium during the opening ceremony of the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ABOVE & BELOW: Performers dance during the opening ceremony of the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah, Team Manager of the Mixed Polo team, joined the Brunei Darussalam national contingent in the ‘Parade of Nations’ during the opening ceremony of the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last night.
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah; Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi; Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar; and members of the national polo team were also present.
The Brunei Darussalam national contingent, led by the flag bearer Mohd Adi Salihin bin Roslan, was first out during the flag-waving assembly.
Also present at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium were Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Carrying the theme ‘Rising Together’, Malaysia welcomed all participating nations in a hugely entertaining spectacle awash with an assortment of colours and dazzling lights.
The crowd was entertained with cultural performances depicting Malaysia with traditional attire on show as well as a performance from Dayang Nurfaizah with the theme song ‘Bangkit Bersama’.
The President of the SEA Games Federation Council, Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar, in his opening remarks welcomed the participating nations to the 29th SEA Games.
He also wished everyone involved including workers and volunteers every success and wished the spectators a pleasant and enjoyable experience.
During one of the segments, Malaysian heroes from the past were also commemorated in a special tribute amid huge cheers from the crowd.
As the huge crowd anxiously waited, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V declared the SEA Games open in a historic moment for the nation.
The highlight of the event was the lighting of the torch in which honour was given to two-time SEA Games champion Nur Dhabitah Sabri who was lifted to light a giant torch which was shortly followed with dazzling fireworks amid the beautiful Kuala Lumpur skyline.
The colourful opening ceremony concluded with the playing of the Malaysia’s national anthem.
The 29th SEA Games brings together 4,900 athletes from 11 countries with Brunei being represented by 105 athletes and 67 officials.
In this year’s edition, the sports of ice skating, ice hockey, indoor hockey and cricket will be introduced for the first time.
A total of 404 gold medals in 38 sports will be up for grabs and the host nation has set a 111-gold target.
