Games torch lit by chairman of organizing body
By Primastuti Handayani
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): The 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games torch relay began on Friday for the official curtain-raising ceremony of the biennial sports event on Saturday.
The 135-kilometer procession kicked off shortly after Brunei Darussalam Organizing Committee (BDOC) chairman Prince Sufri Bolkiah lit the flame at Cendera Kenangan Tower in Kuala Belait.
Brunei's pencak silat athlete Fadilah Haji Muhammad Ghani was honored as the first runner to carry the torch.
The prince, who also head Brunei's National Olympic Committee (NOC), passed the torch to the first runner,
The torch was lit from a natural gas source in Lumut Menandai, Kuala Belait. The district, located about 135 kilometers from the Brunei capital, has been an oil excavation area since 1929.
Fadilah expressed happiness at being accorded the honor.
"I was very lucky to be named the first runner to bring the torch from my hometown," said the 1989 and 1991 SEA Games silver medalist and the 1995 Games bronze medalist.
The relay will mark the beginning run from Kuala Belait to Bandar Seri Begawan, where the torch will light the cauldron at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.
Fadilah, who will compete in the Games fight D (65kgs) division, ran for about five kilometers before passing the torch to the first of the 40 runners who will proceed until Saturday.
The relay will pass main streets in Kuala Belait, Tutong and Brunei-Muara before being placed in Pekan Tutong after midnight.
On Saturday at about 9 a.m. local time, the torch will be carried to Pesiaran Damuan passing through Jerudong Park, the free-of-charge amusement park in the country. After cultural performances, the torch and runners will travel on a landing craft provided by the Royal Brunei navy.
They will sail toward the Water Village, the origin of Brunei's civilization and administration, where dwellers of the village will line up the bridges to cheer the relay.
They will sail around Sibungur Island before heading to the stadium before three Brunei gold medalists from previous events -- Awang Haji Zabidi bin Haji Ali, Dato Setia Awang Haji Mohd Samin bin Haji Abd Azis and Dayang Umi Kalsum.
The three athletes will run a lap, carrying the torch in turns, and then ascend the steps before Umi lights the cauldron at about 10 p.m.
Procession
Defending champion and last host Indonesia will head the procession. Chef de mission Mochammad Hindarto will lead Indonesia's contingent, preceded by flag-bearer Albert Papilaya and followed by four athletes -- golfer Titi Puryanti, pencak silat athletes Ni Made Supadmi and Abas Akbar and karateka Umar Syarief who will wear traditional dress from North Sumatra and South Sulawesi.
Indonesia will be followed by Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and host Brunei Darussalam, which will be led by Crown Prince Al Muhtadee Billah, Prince Abdul Mateen, Princess Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah and Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah will officially open the biennial event -- which runs through Aug. 15 and features 21 sports -- before about 7,000 athletes, coaches, referees and sports officials.
Organizers have prepared field performance presentation with the theme "Excellence and Friendship" divided into seven segments -- the Grand Welcome, the Wanderers of Tropical Rain Forest, Cultural Heritage, Light of Hope, Dawn of a New Era, Entering the New Millenium and Grand Finale.
Nearly 28,000 spectators are expected to pack the stadium.