PUERTO PRINCESA CITY–Hostilities commenced in the 11th Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Friendship Games, with medals already being contested in swimming and athletics as of Monday (Dec. 2) here.
The sepak takraw elimination rounds kicked off Sunday morning (Dec. 1) at the PSU Gym, featuring intense matchups between Filipino and Malaysian athletes.
Other events, including archery, badminton, esports, and pencak silat, also began their elimination phases on the same day.
Meanwhile, the karatedo competition is set to start on Tuesday.
The opening ceremony, held Sunday afternoon at the Edward S. Hagedorn Coliseum, was graced by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann, Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron, and BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Centre Head Susan Pudin. Over 700 athletes and officials joined the colorful parade to celebrate the spirit of camaraderie and friendship for the weeklong tournament.
“We are committed to strengthening our cooperation and solidarity as we set a unified goal of growth and development within our region. As we open this year’s BIMP-EAGA Games, we emphasize the important role that sports play in achieving meaningful milestones together,” said Bachmann.
“Let the lessons from these games inspire you to make a positive impact in your communities,” he added.
Pudin encouraged participants to embody goodwill and sportsmanship: “You are little ambassadors from your home countries. Cheer for one another and let the spirit of BIMP-EAGA shine through your actions, humility, and goodwill.”
Mayor Bayron echoed the sentiments, calling on athletes to compete with honor and respect. “Together, we can make this event a celebration of friendship, collaboration, and sheer aspiration. To the athletes, I encourage you to compete with passion, integrity, and respect for one another,” he said.
