NAY PYI TAW September 25
Achievements in sports sector can uplift physical and mental capabilities of citizens and directly develop human resources, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the opening speech at the ceremony to kick off the 2024 Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Sports Competition at Zeyathiri Tatmadaw Sports Ground in Nay Pyi Taw this afternoon.
Also present at the ceremony were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, Vice Chairman of SAC Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Council member Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye and his wife, Union-level dignitaries, Union ministers and their wives, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, officers, other ranks and families of the offices and departments under the Office of Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air), senior military officer trainees of National Defence College, officers, other ranks and families from regiments and units under Nay Pyi Taw Command, trainees from Tatmadaw Football Academy, invited guests and athletes.
The military band of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) took the position in the sports ground. The flag bearer and 17 sports teams led by the parade commander also took the positions.
At a time when the sports competition was opened, Chairman of the Tatmadaw Sports and Physical Education Administration Board Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Soe Min Oo and Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command Maj-Gen Soe Min released the balloons bearing the opening banner.
The Senior General took the salute of the flag bearer and athletes led by the parade commander. Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said that the sports competitions held by the Tatmadaw aims to select national selected athletes from the selected players from Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) teams, and turn out new generation athletes continuously.
Sports must be done with physical strength and mental capability. Taking sports exercises can help strengthen body organs of individuals and improve mental capacity. Hence, Tatmadaw holds the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) sports competitions yearly except the period on breakout of COVID-19.
This year’s competition comprises 10 sports event for teamwork in addition to individual events.
Tatmadaw has formed the Tatmadaw Sports and Physical Education Administration Board and the Tatmadaw Sports Committee to turn out highly qualified Tatmadaw athletes to bring honour to the State. The annual sports calendar has been schemed to hold sports games in relevant military commands so as to emerge new generation athletes for the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) Sports competitions.
As achievements in the sports sector successfully uplift physical and mental capabilities of citizens and it is a root cause to directly develop human resources of the State. Tatmadaw athletes could compete in the international sports competitions and regional ones with high qualification and secured medals for bringing honour to the State.
It is necessary to forge strengthening, perseverance, industry and diligence in serving the defence duty of the State. Individuals have to forge unity and bilateral trusts among them through the teamwork spirit. All different levels of Tatmadaw members have to dutifully serve assigned duties with full strengths and capacity due to demand of the State.
This sports competition is implementing a social objective adopted by the State: to enhance health sector and sports sector which are all-inclusive for ensuring longevity, health and fitness of the entire people. Hence, athletes need to compete in the games for uplifting prestige of their military commands.
By showing off, they have to pour out physical and mental strengths to be the persons who can bring honour to the State from the Tatmadaw. They all have to strive to become good athletes with perseverance, industry and sporting spirit to be able to uplift the prestige of the Tatmadaw and the State while nurturing themselves to be dutiful individuals in serving the defence duty of the State.
The parade commander and athletes saluted the Senior General and left the ground. The Senior General and party watched the match between Nay Pyi Taw Command team and the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) team in the second round stage of the Defence Services Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy Football Tournament.
At the match, both teams posed pressures on each other but the office of the Commanderin-Chief (Army) could create linkages among its players to control the football. After final whistle, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) team threshed Nay Pyi Taw Command team 4-1.
The sports competition consists of football, Karatedo, men’s and women’s track & field, men’s and women’s Myanmar martial arts, boxing, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s judo, golf, Sepak Takraw and Taekwondo events which will last till 11 October.
