Revival of great regatta

PROUD to be Bruneians, said two young spectators after watching the Regata Brunei Darussalam 2012 at the Waterfront of Bandar Seri Begawan on Sunday. Too young for the golden days of boat-racing back in the 50s-70s on the Brunei River, last weekend was their first taste of the regatta.

And what an experience it was. Watching their fellow Bruneians row together during the race working in unison towards one goal impressed on them the great blend of sports and patriotism.

It was a sight to savour, too. The procession of colourful traditional boats on the Brunei River, the cultural performances that included 'mukun' and 'hadrah' shows as well as traditional Brunei Malay songs and dances only added to an experience that was uniquely Brunei.

It was also an important social event where the royals mingled graciously with the people.

Highlighting the importance of rivers in the country, the regatta if marketed properly could also contribute to tourism in the Sultanate as it will not only attract tourists but also boost local business, as rightly pointed out by the CEO of the Brunei Tourism Board on Sunday. Making its comeback after decades of hiatus, this year's event, which attracted 1,125 participants from Brunei and the neighbouring countries, lured about 1,000 spectators to the Waterfront.

Event organiser the Ministry of Home Affairs had said one of its aims was to bring back the glory and nostalgia of the good ol' days as well as the festive atmosphere in the capital. Judging from the enthusiastic response to Sunday's event, the organiser had achieved that and more.

Hence, the most logical thing to do is keep paddling for it was the harmonious relationship between men and rivers that the people of Brunei found in their past regattas. Such a relationship will guide us to paddle into the future.