| His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, said the 24th SEA Games next year will be held in Nakhon Ratchsima Province or better known as Korat Province about 200km northeast of Thailand. HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah said this at a press conference at his residence, Darul' Afiah, Jerudong, yesterday after having attended the SEA Games Federation Council Meeting in Bangkok on April 9. During the press conference, HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah said a total of 40 sports might be competed in the 24th SEA Games next year. They are athletics and aquatic (category 1), archery, basketball, bowling, canoeing, cycling, fencing, golf, handball, judo, badminton, billiard and snooker, boxing, rowing, equestrian, football, gymnastics, hockey, karate , rugby, sepak takraw, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, squash, sailing, shooting taekwando, triathlon, weightlifting and wushu (category 2), Muay Thai, pentanque, pencak silat, bodybuilding, dance sport, lawn bowls and traditional boat race (catregory 3). "Another three sports - softball, netball and chess - are still pending," HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah added. HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah further added that the sporting events are still under consideration by host Thailand and will be decided during the SEA Games Federation Council Meeting which is scheduled to take place in September this year. In regard with the decision made by the SEA Games Federation Council Meeting, HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah advised local sporting associations interested to take part in the 24th SEA Games to present the names of the respective athletes to the Youth and Sport Department in order to obtain guidance for the necessary preparation. HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah hoped that more athletes will be representing Brunei Darussalam in the 24th SEA Games and urged participating athletes not to waste their opportunity to compete but to gain medals for the country. When asked about the sporting events that Brunei Darussalam might be participating in the next SEA Games, HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah said: "It will almost be similar with the previous SEA Games in Manila like karate , taekwando, lawn bowl, ten-pin bowling, athletics, traditional boats and others." |
