Brunei Darussalam Cycling
Federation acting secretary general
Omar 'Ali Hj Ibrahim said yesterday
that there is a need for Brunei to
organise an International Cycling
Union (UCI) international
commissaire course this year.
Picture: BT file
The Brunei Darussalam Cycling Federation (BDCF) is looking to tap into funds from the Olympic Solidarity programme for an International Cycling Union (UCI) international commissaire course this year.
The Sultanate will be hosting the Butra Heidelberg Cement Tour de Brunei from Sept 7-11, but the shortage of qualified commissaires means the country will have to organise a course to address the matter ahead of the UCI Asia Tour event.
According to UCI's website, international commissaires ensure the smooth running of cycling races in ethical and sporting terms by ensuring that the world governing body's rules are uniformly applied before, during and after the race.
Capable of playing the role of mediator between all those involved in cycling, an international commissaire is an expert in the area in which he officiates and has extensive knowledge of the rules of cycling.
"We might use the programme but we need to apply to the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BNOC)," said BDCF acting secretary general Omar 'Ali Hj Ibrahim yesterday.
"We had a course for road commissaires a long time ago and now we need to have another one the commissaires we have are not international.
"The course will be for 10 to 15 people, maybe more," he added.
A much-maligned resource in Brunei sports, funding from the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Olympic Solidarity programme is used for coaching courses, technical courses and athletes training assistance, among others.
The programme offers financial support to the 33 Olympic sports, though only 18 BNOC members qualify.
Brunei has been allocated US$80,000 for four years from 2009 to 2013, but it is believed that as of last August only the Brunei Amateur Athletics Association (BAAA) has taken advantage of the goldmine.
BAAA used $8,000 to organise a two-week International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Coaching Education and Certification System Level II course, where 18 local coaches were taught how to identify potential athletes aged 13 to 17 in secondary schools and district schemes and develop them into future national athletes.
If BNOC approves BDCF's proposal, the national cycling body will liaise with UCI or regional counterpart Asian Cycling Confederation to secure lecturers.
It won't be the first time such a course will be held for local technical officials in the sport if the move works out.
According to Omar 'Ali, the federation also hosted a similar course albeit in a smaller setting in 2005 before a Southeast Asian Under-23 tournament which attracted 10 clubs from the Asean grouping.
In March 2009, 28 BDCF members sat for the 'Course for National Mountain Bike Commissaires' in prepration for the 1st Asean Mountain Bike Championship which Brunei hosted.
However, those were for mountain-bike commissaires and the Butra Heidelberg Cement Tour de Brunei is a road race.
It is the norm for courses to be centred around races, where the commissaires can put their new found knowledge to the test at the end of the course.
The course will help increase Brunei's base of technical expertise in cycling after the national cycling team debuted a dedicated road race mechanic, Suhimi Anak Siba, during the March 8-13 Jelajah Malaysia.
Courtesy from Brunei Times
