By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, Dec 3: Sport events such as the 10th BIMPNT-EAGA 2018 friendship games are seen as good platforms to expose the state’s athletes for further development in their respective fields.
After the handing over of the state’s flag to the Sarawak contingent on Monday morning, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin,said the event is a good platform to expose and develop athletic potential further as most of the athletes that are participating in the games representing Sarawak are from Suksar (Sukan Sarawak).
“Even though we are not sending all the best (athletes for the event), but we hope they can get as much exposure as possible during the event..it’s good exposure for our potential Suksar (Sukan Sarawak) athletes,” he opined.
Lee said the event also would also strengthen relationships between the participating countries.
This year’s Sarawak contingent consists of 139 athletes and officers (104 athletes) to compete in the 10th edition of the BIMPNT-EAGA 2018 friendship games which will be held in Brunei Darussalam on Dec 7 to 9.
Receiving the state flag during the ceremony today was the Sarawak contingent Chef-De-Mission (CDM), Hii Chang Kee who is also the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Permanent Secretary.
The athletes will compete in four events out eight, namely athletics, takraw, silat and wushu.
Five countries are taking part in the friendly games, namely the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia (Federal Territory of Labuan, Sabah and Sarawak), Brunei and Australia.
This year would be Brunei’s second time hosting the event after the first in 2008.
For Australia, it will be its first participation in the friendship games after joining the East Asean Growth Area (BIMPT-EAGA) economic cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2017.
Australia will be represented by Darwin, the capital of its Northern Territory. — DayakDaily
