Bandar Seri Begawan- An exhibition was organised by the Brunei Museums Department and Department of Youth and Sports yesterday in conjunction with the upcoming 6th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games to welcome the athletes and officials of the BIMP-EAGA member countries.
Places of interest and historical sites in the country were displayed at the exhibition, which is held at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.
The exhibition was launched by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Awg Haji Ahmad bin Haji Abdul Rahman. Also present at the event was the Acting Director of Museums, Awg Bantong bin Antaran as the chairman of the exhibition.
The exhibition also showcases past BIMP-EAGA Games, as well as cultural information and the traditional games of Brunei.
BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines - East Asean Growth Area, which was created on March 26, 1996.
The first BIMP-EAGA Friendship Game was held in 1996 in Mindanao, Philippines. Sarawak, Malaysia hosted the second in 1997, Palawan, Philippines was the venue for the third in August 2003, the fourth was in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia in 2004 and the fifth in Makassar, Indonesia in 2006. Brunei Darussalam has the honour of hosting the sixth BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games.
The aim of the exhibition is to provide information for athletes as well as locals about BIMP-EAGA, which mainly focuses on the Friendship Games.
It also provides an opportunity for athletes to find out about Brunei‘s culture and places of interest and, at the same time, promote the country as a tourist destination.
The 15-day exhibition is open from November 26 until December 9, and is open for public viewing.
Present at the event were senior officers from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Museums Department, the Youth and Sports Department and representative from the BIMP-EAGA member countries.
The next BIMP-EAGA Frinedship Games will be hosted by Mindanao, Philippines in 2010. By Achong Tanjong
Source:
http://www.brunei-online.com (November 27, 2008)