Fund-raising bazaar, carnival for special athletes

A SPECIAL Olympics Charity Bazaar and Carnival was held yesterday at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in a bid to raise funds for athletes of the Special Olympics.

Gracing the event was Her Royal Highness Princess Azeemah Ni'matul Bolkiah, Royal Patron of the Special Olympics Brunei Darussalam (SOBD).

Her Royal Highness was accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bulqiah.

The chairperson of SOBD, Hj Mahrub Hj Murni in his welcoming remarks disclosed that SOBD has began to explore new (sports) namely ten-pin bowling, horse riding and swimming to be included in the preparation for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

"Preparations for these are underway and will be followed by appropriate training soon," he said.

He hopes that Special Olympics programmes; health screening for the nation's young special athletes and the young athletes programme as well as the family network, can also be expanded.

Since its establishment in 2003, SOBD has received full support from various relevant authorities and private sectors.

Hj Mahrub said that contribution and support from various bodies has enabled SOBD to acquire the much needed facilities to enable the athletes to undergo continuous training.

"These trainings enable our athletes to win gold, silver and bronze medals in national, regional and world championships,' he said adding that these achievements proved to be very meaningful to the athletes.

He said that "The four gold medals, four silver medals and 13 bronze medals that our athletes won at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China in athletics and bocce become the motivation for SOBD to continue to strive for success in upcoming competitions."

He announced that SOBD athletes will be participating in the Special Olympics Singapore National Games next month as well as the Borneo Cup in Balikpapan, Indonesia in December.

Some 300 visitors came to the one-day charity bazaar and carnival which was part of an ongoing efforts to provide SOBD athletes opportunities to excel in sports despite their disabilities.

At the event Her Royal Highness Princess Azeemah Ni'matul Bolkiah also presented certificates of appreciation to the event's main sponsors before viewing the exhibition and booths set up by SOBD, private firms and volunteers.

Among the fun activities put up at the event included a Special Olympics Physical Challenge, Kiddies Fun Fair and Fear Factor challenge.

There was also professional face painting, caricature and hand designs as well as street magic by local talents. For avid fans of DPMM FC, the bazaar provided them with the opportunity to meet their favorite players in the "Meet The Fans Sessions".

Earlier in the day some 150 people from all walks of life participated in a eight kilometres fund-raising walkathon. It began at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien, in the capital and ended at the National Hassanal Bolkiah stadium in Berakas.

Proceeds from the walkathon is to facilitate the needs of Special Olympics athletes on training, providing sports equipment and participating in sports events and to send the SOBD team to the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held in Athens, Greece. (RSH1) The Brunei Times