His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council pointed out during the meeting that early preparation is key and only truly qualified athletes be selected to represent the nation on global sports competition. | PHOTOS: INFOFOTO
BERAKAS, BRUNEI-MUARA: The selection of athletes to represent the nation at regional and international games should be through the normal process of selection by the national athlete’s assessment and selection executive committee and not by ‘E-Referendum’, circulated by e-mail to members of the executive committee as in the case of the Commonwealth Youth Games 2015, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council stressed that the ‘E-Referendum’ is not the right way. It was like taking things for granted and forcing the relevant parties to make individual decisions without strong reasons.
His Royal Highness hopes it will not happen again in the future. His Royal Highness made the sabda at the ‘Post-Mortem’ meeting or Re-assessment of the country’s participation in the 5th Commonwealth Youth Games.
The meeting was held this morning at the Conference Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
His Royal Highness said shortage of time or no suitable time to hold a meeting should not be made an excuse, considering the dates of the regional and international games were known much earlier.
Early planning and preparations, His Highness stressed, was very important to ensure effective implementation.
His Royal Highness continued the normal process of assessment and selection by the Executive Committee must be maintained because in the meetings, the involved parties could discuss and exchange opinions openly, especially in assessing whether or not the nominated athlete fulfilled the six stated requirements.
Apart from that, His Royal Highness added, the meeting could hear changes in government policies, if any, and explanations from the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, BDNOC, on matters that needed attention, apart from explanations from coaches if necessary.
His Royal Highness stressed that although the BDNOC has ‘exclusive right’ in determining that athletes who would represent the country, but that right is only used after they were recommended through the proper assessment and selection.
Dato Paduka Doctor Awang Haji Affendy bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as the chairman of the National Athletes Assessment and Selection Executive Committee in a welcoming speech highlighted the country’s participation in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa last month in swimming and athletics.
Following the failure of the national athletes to win any medal, Dato Paduka Doktor Awang Haji Affendy, emphasised that the committee members should identify the weakness and take positive and proactive measures to improve matters.
Also present at the meeting was Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.