SEA Games opens in modest style

SEA Games opens in modest style

By Primastuti Handayani and Ivy Susanti

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): The last Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
of the second millennium began on Saturday evening in modest but
splendid style at the packed Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in
Brunei.

Some 30,000 spectators mingled with about 4,500 athletes,
coaches and officials in the Games' opening ceremony, which
concluded a few hours before the event's first gold medal went up
for grabs.

"Brunei Darussalam is proud and honored to host the last SEA
Games of this millennium," Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said in a
brief speech which marked the beginning of the week-long
competition, the first ever to be held in Brunei.

The speech was followed by a fireworks display, which preceded
the raising of the SEA Games flag.

Local artists performed a song titled Selamat Datang
(Welcome). Minutes afterwards, six Brunei navy officers raised
the SEA Games flag while two artists sang the Games theme song,
Here We Meet.

The theme song was composed by Prince Sufri Bolkiah, chairman
of the Games organizing committee and president of the Brunei
Darussalam National Olympic Committee.

"After 40 years of historic achievements, the SEA Games torch
finally arrived on Brunei's shores and we are indeed very
privileged to be able to witness this official opening of the
20th edition of the Games.

"This friendly biennial sports competition will foster
friendship and understanding among the ASEAN nations for our
mutual good and benefit.

"I hope the 20th SEA Games will be the perfect catalyst to
catapult us toward greater regional understanding, cooperation
and unity, as well as help stimulate and facilitate more regional
sociocultural, educational and economic activities as we approach
the next millennium and beyond. Therefore, let us all pray for
our respective roles and may the 20th SEA Games help ASEAN grow,"
the prince said in his speech.

ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which
groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

After the official opening, three Brunei athletes -- Awang
Haji Zabidi bin Haji Ali, Dato Setia Awang Haji Mohd Samin bin
Haji Abd Azis and Dayang Umi Kalthom -- carried the Games' torch
around the stadium.

Kalthom, who studies in England, received the honor of
lighting the cauldron. The 1993 Games gold medalist has been
absent from the pencak silat arena for four years and pledged to
make a sweet comeback before her home crowd.

The ceremony got off to a jumping start when 12 parachutists
from the Royal Brunei Air Force jumped from a helicopter while
carrying the flags of the Games 10 participating countries. The
SEA Games mascot Awang Budiman took the plunge with them.

Marching bands from the Royal Brunei Police Force and Armed
Forces performed on the blue-carpeted soccer field, accompanied
by about 5,000 students from eight secondary schools carrying
picture cards.

Supervisor Awang Haji Mahdini bin Mohiddin said the students
prepared for about three weeks for the ceremony.

The students displayed pictures of flora and fauna and
traditional instruments from Brunei, the 10 participating
countries' flags and the Sultan.

Brunei's national anthem, Allah Peliharakan Sultan (God
safeguards the Sultan), greeted the royal family when they
entered the stadium 40 minutes after the parachutists.

The Royal Brunei Police Force preceded 100 SEA Games flag
bearers and 100 people carrying the flags of the participating
countries. They were followed by three men dressed in the
traditional costume of yellow shirt, black trousers, red belt and
red headband.

Behind them came the Indonesian contingent with 354 athletes,
led by deputy chef de mission Imron Z.S. Boxer Albert Papilaya
carried the Indonesian flag. He was followed by four athletes --
Titi Puryanti (golf), Ni Made Supadmi and Abas Akbar (pencak
silat) and Umar Syarief (karate) -- who wore traditional outfits
from North Sumatra and South Sulawesi.

"This is the second time I carried the national flag. I
carried the flag at the 1995 SEA Games as well. It gave me a
proud moment before I hang up my gloves after these Games. I'm
too old for boxing," the 32-year-old Albert said.

The Cambodian contingent came next with 62 athletes. They were
followed by Laos with 41 athletes; Malaysia with 328 athletes;
Myanmar with 135 athletes; the Philippines with 258 athletes;
Singapore with 268 athletes; Thailand with 361 athletes; Vietnam
with 170 athletes; and host Brunei with 370 athletes.

Brunei's contingent was led by Crown Prince Al Muhtadee
Billah, Prince Abdul Mateen, Princess Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah and
Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah. They received a standing
ovation from enthusiastic spectators.

After the official ceremony, athletes and spectators enjoyed a
presentation titled Excellence and Friendship. The performance
was divided into seven segments: Grand Welcome, the Wanderers of
the Tropical Rain Forest, Cultural Heritage, Light of Hope, Dawn
of a New Era, Entering the New Millennium and the Grand Final.

A fireworks display concluded the gala opening. The Games will
end on Aug. 15.