Deputised by His Majesty the King, BDF Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa opened today the 8th World Military Golf Championship held under the auspices of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The BDF Commander-in-Chief was welcomed on arrival by BDF Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and President of Bahrain Golf Club Major General Dhiab Saqr Al Nuaimi, Head of the High Organising Committee Major General Ali Saqr Al Nuaimi and Military Sport Association Secretary General Brigadier Dawed Al Mena.
After playing the national anthem and reading some verses from the Holy Quran, the participating teams proceeded to the court in a military parade. They are Botswana, Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, the USA and Bahrain.
The High Organising Committee Head paid tribute to HM the King for patronising the event which reflects royal keenness on developing military sport. Then, the official representative of the International Military Sport Council (CISM) Brigadier Asad Al Hashim, from Lebanon, gave a speech in which he lauded Bahrain's key role in organising the championship. After that, CISM flag was hoisted and Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa declared the opening of the championship.
Breath-taking parachute shows decorated the sky of the celebration venue which was attended by Interior Minister Lieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, the US Fifth Fleet Commander Admiral John Miller, Royal Protocols President Major General Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Fadhala, Public Security Chief Major General Taraq Al Hassan, National Guard Staff Director Major General Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Khalifa, ambassadors, military attaches of brotherly and friendly countries and BDF senior officers.
Source: BNA