Royalty participate in Queen’s baton relay

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct 30:  The Queen’s Baton Relay yesterday completed its journey in Brunei Darussalam with the surprise participation of His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel who ran from his school, Al-Falaah School, to the final destination of the relay, Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

The organising committee and the representative from Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 were honoured by His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel’s participation. His Royal Highness has always been fond of running and has been taking part in various local running competitions.

Other members of the royal family were also involved in the relay, which included His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Muntaqim, YAM Pengiran Anak ‘Abdul Raqiib, YAM Pengiran Anak ‘Abdul Haseeb, YAM Pengiran Anak Raheemah Sanaul Bolkiah, YAM Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul ‘Aleem, YAM Pengiran Anak ‘Aliiyah Amalul Bulqiah and YAM Pengiran Anak ‘Aizzatul Bulqiah.

The Queen’s Baton Relay will next head to Australia after His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, passed the baton to Todd Mercer, Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam.

Hj Muhd Zamri bin Dato Paduka Hj Hamdani, the Vice President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, in an interview said, “We are surprised by the participation of His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel to run from his school to the stadium. We are honoured and happy that His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Waked ran with the Queen’s Baton Relay.”

On the smooth completion of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Brunei, he said, “His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah was delighted with the involvement of many members of the royal family as well as children from 12 schools which is in line with the theme on education.”

He added, “We are also happy to see some school children follow the relay until the stadium to take a closer look at the Queen’s Baton.”

He also thanked all the agencies involved in the success of the Queen’s Baton Relay namely the Traffic Police, all the sport associations, BNOC, Youth and Sports Department, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as well as foreign diplomats from the Commonwealth nations.

The Queen’s Baton Relay started off at the entrance gate of the new Prime Minister’s Office whereby Rebecca Christine Grace, the representative from the 20th Glasgow Commonwealth Games handed over the Queen’s Baton to His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council who led the way to Amar Pahlawan Primary School.

At International School Brunei (ISB), His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Muntaqim, YAM Pengiran Anak ‘Abdul Haseeb, YAM Pengiran Anak Raheemah Sanaul Bolkiah, YAM Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul ‘Aleem, YAM Pengiran Anak ‘Aliiyah Amalul Bulqiah and YAM Pengiran Anak ‘Aizzatul Bulqiah participated.

Other schools involved were Pengiran Anak Puteri Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah Religious School, Anggerek Desa Primary School, Berakas Secondary School, Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College, Sultan Saiful Rizal Technical College, Pusat Bahagia, Pulaie Primary School, Sports School, Al-Falaah Primary School and Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School.

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel received the baton at Al-Falaah Primary School while YAM Pengiran Anak ‘Abdul Raqiib was at Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School to receive the baton.

Rebecca Christine Grace in an interview said, “We are honoured that His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel took part in the relay as well as other members of the royal family. This has made the Queen’s Baton Relay extra special.”

She added, “It has been a fantastic and memorable day for the baton. We visited 12 schools and the baton was touched by hundreds of people including youths. The relay is about youths and peace as well as sovereignty and sports therefore we are glad that the baton was touched by so many children here.”

Before the ceremony concluded Rebecca Christine Grace presented a granite gem stone to His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah. The representative from the 20th Glasgow Commonwealth Games explained, “The granite gem stone is a piece of granite which is unique to Scotland. The precious stone has engravings of the Commonwealth Games which are given to each nations and territories that the baton has visited.”

Meanwhile, David Campbell, the British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, applauded the enthusiasm of the children that participated ih the relay.

The British High Commissioner in an interview also added, “We knew that the baton will have a very warm welcome in Brunei and that turned out to be the exact case.”

He also said, “We start the run in a beautiful morning, the schools have a very colourful event greeting the arrival of the baton. I think there will be very memorable pictures going back to Scotland. We hone that as many Bruneians as possible will visit Scotland and take part in the Commonwealth Games.”

Hj Muhd Zamri bin Dato Paduka Hj Hamdani also revealed that Brunei Darussalam has already received the invitation and Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council has forwarded the invite to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

He said, “Its now the duty of the Youth and Sports Department to support and prepare the athletes to take part in the Commonwealth Games. For the last two Commonwealth Games, Brunei only sent its lawn bowl team however next year, there may be other sports.”