Promoting sports can help cultivate a disciplined and healthy spirit, strengthening the nation’s human resources, which can contribute to the country’s success through unity and cooperation.
SENIOR General Min Aung Hlaing noted that the successful sports achievements that have the potential to raise Myanmar’s State flag to the top in international competitions significantly enhance the nation’s pride and dignity while elevating the country’s status.
State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Fifth National Sports Festival 2024 at Wunna Theikdi Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday evening.
In his speech, the Senior General underscored the notion that ‘promoting sports is akin to defending and safeguarding the nation’ represents the highest principle.
He highlighted that it is necessary for the entire population, including students, youth, and persons with disabilities, to actively participate in the process of implementing programmes that transition from mass sports to excellent sports, aiming to nurture outstanding athletes.
He emphasized that the successful sports achievements that have the potential to raise Myanmar’s State flag to the top in international competitions significantly enhance the nation’s pride and dignity while elevating the country’s status. Hence, it is emphasized that all citizens should actively collaborate in promoting the sports sector.
He continued to say that the government is making efforts to appropriately enhance the recognition and rewards, including cash awards, for national athletes who have won prestigious prizes in international competitions.
Moreover, the Senior General disclosed that the government is providing monthly allowances and honorary titles to veteran athletes who have once brought glory to the nation.
As such, he urged athletes participating in the sports festival to strive for success, and aim to become nationally selected players in order to bring pride to the country.
By including sports in the scoring system, he added, the government manages to facilitate outstanding student-athletes to attend sports and physical education institutes, and awarding sports scholarships.
The Senior General stressed that the Ministry of Education should implement plans to encourage every student and youth to participate in various sports, organize a sports calendar, and systematically arrange annual competitions from the basic education level to college and university levels.
He pointed out that only then will the integration of sports and education-related activities become smoother, leading to the emergence of a new generation of athletes and supporting the continuous development of sustainable sports development of the nation.
He urged entire people including student youths and people with disabilities to join the process of upgrading the mass sports level to an excellent sports level.
In Myanmar, he explained that it is necessary to organize sports competitions for students and youth in the coming years, as well as inter-ministerial competitions and advanced sports events. These should be included in the sports calendar, and efforts must be made to enhance the level of Myanmar’s sports.
The Senior General stressed the need to systematically train and prepare outstanding athletes who emerge from various competitions, in order to develop Myanmar’s top athletes capable of competing in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games and international competitions.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla planted a Gangaw sapling (Mesua ferrea) to mark the opening of the 2024 National Sports Festival.
After the Senior General delivered a speech, fireworks were displayed to mark the festival’s opening ceremony.
At the opening ceremony, paratroopers from the free-fall squad, carrying the flag of the National Sports Festival along with regional and state flags, landed on the ground and saluted the Senior General.
The renowned singer Htoo L Linn sang the song “Our Myanmar, a modern nation”. A lighting show was presented to accompany a traditional Myanmar orchestra and musical instruments, with music played in a lively and rhythmic fashion. The event continued with a grand opening, during which fireworks were launched. The Fine Arts Department under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education under the Ministry of Education, presented the song “Beautiful, Beloved Golden Myanmar”, with a performance.
After the State Military Band took the position in the stadium, the sports contingents from ministries, regions and states led by the flag bearers took the positions in the stadium. They hoisted the State flag and saluted it.
Veteran selection athletes conveyed the flag of the National Sports Festival into the stadium.
Chairman of the National Sports Festival U Than Tun Oo ignited the torch to mark the festival and handed it over to Myanmar’s selected player Police Major Aung Cho Myint. The decorated float bearing the torch flanked by ethnic national people headed from the City Hall to Wunna Theikdi Stadium. Selected athletes relayed the torch along the designated route and ignited it at the dais in front of the grandstand. At that moment, the commemorative torch, positioned at the southeast corner of the stadium, was also ignited.
On behalf of athletes and referees, an athlete and a referee took Sports oaths and the flag bearers and athletes left the stadium.
The Senior General and his wife, and dignitaries enjoyed choral dances representing six eras of Myanmar performed by artistes from the Fine Arts Department, demonstrated entertainment and songs by members from the Myanmar Paralympic Sports Federation, students from Nay Pyi Taw State Technical High School, Myanmar Motion Pictures Organization, Myanmar Chinlone Federation, Myanmar Theatrical Association, Myanmar Comedians’ Association, students from University for Development of National Races, and Nationalities Youth Resource Development Degree College, performances of students from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The fireworks were displayed to mark the successful completion of the opening ceremony of the National Sports Festival. The Senior General and his wife waved to the attendees and cordially greeted the veteran athletes and artistes.
Also present at the ceremony were SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Council Secretary General Aung Lin Dwe and his wife, Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo and his wife, council members and their wives, union ministers, union-level dignitaries and their wives, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of the Nay Pyi Taw Command, deputy ministers, Olympic Committee members, presidents and officials of sports federations, guests, athletes and sports fans.
The first National Sports Festival was held in Yangon from 3 to 16 May 1992 with 22 sports events, the second in Yangon from 25 January to 6 February 1994 with 24 sports events, the third in Yangon from 11 to 24 January 1997 with 29 sports events, and the fourth in Nay Pyi Taw from 13 to 28 February 2015 with 27 sports events. In 2024, the Fifth National Sports Festival is being held on a grand scale to aim at enhancing the nation’s sports standards, achieving success in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games and other international competitions, and turning out outstanding athletes and new-generation athletes who can bring national honour, fostering greater collaboration and unity between regions, states, and ministries in order to further promote sports activities and stipulating public interest in sports to join in sports activities. The festival is in progress with six sports at the ministerial level and 23 sports at the regional and state level as well as four sports for athletes with disabilities, totalling 33, starting from early December. The para-sports events were held from 5 to 8 December. And, ministerial and regional and state level sports competitions are being held. — MNA/TTA
