ISSUE 4 - Chiangmai mail

4 Issue : 4Thursday 16 December 2010AUG Sports TodayLanna celebration marks tMinister of Education Chinaworn Bunyakiart bangs theceremonial gong to start the games.The Thai National flag is raised at the start of the ceremonyby students from the military school.The cheering squad supports the Bor Sang umbrella dancerswith their own display of umbrellas.Lighting the Lantern to start the Games.The rainbow route shows us all walking towards the samegoal and the idea of “We Are One”.The hilltribes dancereflects His Majestythe King’s care for allthe people ofThailand.The feeling of friendship and unitywas apparent in the smiling faces of thegathered athletes as they waited for theopening ceremony at Maejo Universityon December 15. Athletes from eachnation paraded led by a flag bearer.The audience then stood for the raisingof the Thai flag and the Thai nationalanthem and then for the first ofmany beautiful performances. The firstone representing the Games mascot, ahilltribe boy and honor Their Majestiesthe King and Queen for their selflesswork in aiding the hilltribes people fromcrop replacement help to providing anoutlet for their unique handicrafts. Dancersdressed in each of the hilltribesgroups in Northern Thailand performeda graceful dance that incorporated theyellow flag of HM the King. A greatround of applause greeted the dancersfrom San Sai Witthayakhom School andfrom the students of Sai Nam PeungUpathom School in Bangkok, under theRoyal Patronage of HM the King, whojoined them in the performance.Chiang Mai Deputy Governor NaruemolPalwat then thanked the organizers andathletes on behalf of the people of thepeople of Chiang Mai, welcoming allASEAN members to the city and theprovince. Secretary General of the OfficeHigher Education Commission and Presidentof the Organizing Committee Dr.Sumet then took the podium to welcomethe visiting the athletes to the Games.Noting that the Games took place everytwo years, Chiang Mai and Thailand werehonored to be chosen to organize the15 th ASEAN University Games and thathe hoped the games would encourageThai students to join in sports and encouragea spirit of goodwill.President of the ASEAN UniversitySports Council, Hon. Dato ProfessorOmar Osman offered his greetings to thehonored guests, organizers, officials,coaches, athletes and volunteers. “Weare very glad and happy to be in thislively city of Chiang Mai. The quality ofathletics is very high in these games andwe wish you all success in the Gamesand to enjoy the spirit of goodwill,sportsmanship, and competition.”Chinaworn Bunyakiart, the Minister ofEducation for Thailand, took the stageto open the Games, first welcoming theathletes and thanking the members ofthe AUSC and the Office of Higher EducationCommission for their help inbringing the Games to Thailand and inThe Foon Tou andNok Yoong dancersperform traditionaldances during theshow.Traditionallydressed men carrya palanquin with awoman droppingflowers in ablessing tradition.