Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended and delivered a speech of honour at the opening ceremony of the Fifth National Sports Festival 2024 which was held at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw on 9 December. Attendees were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the SAC Chairman Prime Minister, along with SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife, SAC Secretary General Aung Lin Dwe and wife, SAC Joint-Secretary General Ye Win Oo and wife, SAC members and wives, union ministers, union-level dignitaries and wives, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, members of Olympic Committee, presidents of Myanmar sports federations, specially invited guests, artistes, managers, coaches and athletes of sports contingents of union ministries and regions and states, Tatmadaw members, staff of ministries, students and sports enthusiasts.
Before the ceremony, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister and wife planted a Gangaw sapling (Mesua ferrea) to mark the opening of the Fifth National Sports Festival 2024, followed by the opening ceremony. At the 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.
Following this, the song “Our Myanmar, a modern nation” was performed and a lighting show was presented. The inauguration was marked with a countdown. At the same time, 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 of Myanmar sports conveyed the flag of the National Sports Festival into the stadium.
During the ceremony, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister delivered an opening remarks as follows:
- The Fifth National Sports Festival is being held 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 sports festival is a proof of the national pride and strong patriotism of citizens, their dedication to the country, unity, nationalistic fervor, cooperation, peace and stability.
- Myanmar organized the National Sports Festival four times, in 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2015. The country can hold the fifth festival only after a period of nearly ten years has passed.
- Sports promotion is an honorable activity as well as a national duty, essential to the country. 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.
- The first National Sports Festival held in 1992, has produced numerous nationally acclaimed athletes in various sports categories.
- Throughout history, our ethnic brothers and national team players have achieved medals in international competitions. They have proudly raised the flag of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the top of the flagpole on the international level, fulfilling their duty.
- 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.
- It is necessary for the entire population, including students, youths, 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.
- 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. The government is providing monthly allowances and honorary titles to veteran athletes who have once brought glory to the nation.
- In carrying out the measures to develop sports sector, related ministries and sports federations must collaborate, and the entire public should carry out it as a national responsibility.
- 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.
- All athletes are required to compete in accordance with disciplines, rules and regulations adopted for competitions fairly and relentlessly out of perseverance, industry, zeal, effort, endeavour and courage. Athletes are urged to promote the sports culture by comforting losers when one wins competitions, accepting the defeat and empathizing with winners when one loses competitions and offering assistance when other competitors are in trouble.
- It needs 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.
- Therefore, athletes are urged to compete out of sports spirit with the strong desire to win the competitions. The Senior General revealed he hope that many athletes who will honour the State from the selected players will be emerged througout the sports festival. As soon as the speech ended, fireworks commemorating the opening ceremony were set off.
Myanmar’s selected athletes relayed the torch to mark the Fifth National Sports Festival 2024 and ignited it at the dais in front of the grandstand. After that, an athlete and a referee on behalf of the sports contigents took Sports oaths and the flag bearers and athletes left the stadium.
Next, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister and wife, and dignitaries enjoyed choral dances representing six eras of Myanmar performed by artistes from the Fine Arts Department under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture; and demonstrated entertainment and songs by members from the Myanmar Paralympic Sports Federation, Myanmar Motion Pictures Organization, Myanmar Chinlone Federation, Myanmar Comedians’ Association, students from University for Development of National Races, and Nationalities Youth Resource Development Degree College.
Following this, the fireworks were displayed to mark the successful completion of the opening ceremony of the Fifth National Sports Festival 2024. The SAC Chairman Prime Minister and wife waved to the attendees and cordially greeted the veteran athletes and artistes.
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 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.
Source: MWD (10-12-2024)
- The Fifth National Sports Festival is being held 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 sports festival is a proof of the national pride and strong patriotism of citizens, their dedication to the country, unity, nationalistic fervor, cooperation, peace and stability.
- Myanmar organized the National Sports Festival four times, in 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2015. The country can hold the fifth festival only after a period of nearly ten years has passed.
- The successful sports achievements 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.
- It is necessary for the entire population, including students, youths, 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.
- 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. The government is providing monthly allowances and honorary titles to veteran athletes who have once brought glory to the nation.
- 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.
- All athletes are required to compete in accordance with disciplines, rules and regulations adopted for competitions fairly and relentlessly out of perseverance, industry, zeal, effort, endeavour and courage. Athletes are urged to promote the sports culture by comforting losers when one wins competitions, accepting the defeat and empathizing with winners when one loses competitions and offering assistance when other competitors are in trouble.
- The Fifth National Sports Festival 2024 is being held on a grand scale 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.