SOME 780 people turned up to participate in the Asian Games Fun Run campaign, introduced for the first time to enliven the upcoming 17th Asian Games scheduled to take place on September 19. The event was held at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the heart of the capital.

Yesterday’s event was the 26th Asian Games Fun Run held across the Asian region to date. It was organised by the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) in collaboration with the Youth and Sports Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS). His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of BDNOC, officiated and participated in the fun run joined by his son, YAM Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul ‘Aleem.

Also joining the run was the Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Datin Paduka Hajah Adina binti Othman.

The morning event began with remarks from Jeremy Brett Walker, a representative from the Olympic Council Asia (OCA), and Lee Ilhee, a representative from the Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee (IAGOC).

Prior to the start of the fun run, a brief warm-up session was conducted and led by Awang Md Darus bin Tanjung.

His Royal Highness sounded the horn to mark the start of the run and joined the run with the rest of the participants.

The fun run saw participants making their way along the designated roads in the capital before heading to the finishing line at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Shopping Complex.

Upon reaching the finishing line, His Royal Highness was ushered to a mini exhibition highlighting on anti-doping through an interactive counter.

Among the participating runners at the event yesterday included students from the Sports School and other selected primary schools, athletes, Paralympic athletes as well as sports associations.

The 17th Asian Games is 176 days (as of today May 26, 2014) away from its official opening ceremony.

The Asian Games is held every four years and this year, it is expected that some 20,000 athletes, officials and media are involved in the big sports event in September. - Borneo Bulletin (26 May 2014)