We would like to first congratulate our athletes for winning medals at the recent Malaysian Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak, Malaysia, as well as other athletes for their tireless efforts in preparing and competing in the games, and their parents for the strong support.
In response to the letter, ‘Why did we limit our participation in SUKMA?’, published in the Opinion page on August 24, 2024, we would like to thank the author for raising their concerns.
It is important to note that our approach to these games has never been about limiting participation. On the contrary, we provide opportunities to athletes through various sports associations. In fact, we sent more athletes this year than we did during our last involvement in SUKMA. Such an approach is not unique to Brunei; it is widely adopted by other countries when selecting athletes to represent their respective countries.
Participation in overseas events, such as SUKMA, is not just a matter of interest or presence in local sporting communities. We follow a well-established process that involves evaluations by experts and officials, who look at a number of areas. These include the fitness level of the athletes, their potential to perform at a high level and past performances in competitions, as well as critical factors, such as discipline and dedication.
The approach ensures that we send the most capable and prepared athletes, giving them the best possible chance to excel at the games.
The decision to send 61 athletes this year, though seem limited compared to the range of sports practised locally, was made with these factors in mind.
We believe in early planning and working closely with all sports associations to ensure that every athlete with the potential to succeed gets the exposure and opportunities they need. This will be a key focus in our preparations for future games.
Department of Youth and
Sports at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
