The opening ceremony of the Fifth National Sports Festival 2024 took place yesterday evening at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw.
The event was inaugurated by the Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his wife, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla. Also in attendance were Vice Chairman of the SAC, Vice Senior General Soe Win, and his wife, Daw Than Than Nwe, along with other council members, union ministers, senior military officers, Olympic Committee members, sports federation officials, athletes, and enthusiastic sports fans.
To commemorate the occasion, the SAC chairman and his wife planted a Gangaw sapling (Mesua ferrea). The opening ceremony featured an impressive display by paratroopers carrying the flags of the National Sports Festival and regional states, landing with precision and saluting the Senior General.
Renowned singer Htoo L Linn performed the patriotic song "Our Myanmar, a Modern Nation," while a spectacular lighting display accompanied by traditional Myanmar orchestra music enthralled the audience. The event concluded with a grand fireworks display. The Fine Arts Department, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education, delivered a captivating performance of the song "Beautiful, Beloved Golden Myanmar."
The festival began with the hoisting of the State flag and a parade by sports contingents representing ministries, regions, and states. Addressing the gathering, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing emphasized the importance of systematic training and preparation for athletes to compete in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games and other international events.
He underscored that exceptional achievements in sports enhance national pride, elevate the country's status, and bring glory to Myanmar. He also reiterated the government's commitment to recognizing and rewarding outstanding athletes with appropriate incentives, including cash awards.
This year’s festival features 33 sports events: six for government ministries, 23 for regions and states, and four for disabled athletes.
The National Sports Festival has a rich history, with its inaugural edition held in Yangon in May 1992. Subsequent festivals were hosted in Yangon in 1994 and 1997, and the fourth edition took place in Nay Pyi Taw in 2015.
