Brunei Darussalam will send a contingent of 38 athletes and 15 officials to the 11th BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games 2024 in Puerto Princesa, the Philippines, from December 1-5.
The athletes will participate in swimming, badminton, karate, athletics, pencak silat and sepak takraw.
A national flag handover ceremony for Brunei’s contingent was held at Digadong Hall at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) yesterday.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad, the guest of honour, officiating the event, presented the national flag to the contingent’s Chef de Mission Pengiran Haji Mohamed Asran bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, who serves as the Assistant Director of the Research Development and International Affairs Division.
Permanent Secretary (Culture) at the MCYS Pengiran Haji Mohd Hasnan bin Pengiran Haji Ali Hassan, who is also the Acting Permanent Secretary (Sports) and Chair of the National Athlete Selection and Evaluation Committee, emphasised that the athletes have undergone rigorous training to ensure peak fitness and performance. “We hope the athletes are well-prepared to deliver strong competition against their opponents,” he said.
The friendship games aim to promote unity, understanding, and cooperation among member countries of BIMPNT-EAGA through sports. The inaugural edition of the Games was held in the Philippines in 1996, followed by Sarawak the next year. After a hiatus, the Games resumed in 2003, with the Philippines as host.
Brunei has hosted the Games twice, in 2008 and 2018. In the 10th edition, Brunei’s contingent excelled, securing 16 gold, nine silver and 10 bronze medals through Contingent ‘A’, and two gold, four silver, and six bronze medals through Contingent ‘B’.
The Brunei contingent will depart for the Philippines in stages starting tomorrow. – James Kon
