The First ASEAN Games, Sunday, 16 November 2008, Havana, Cuba.The home-based and locally recruited staff of the Embassies of five ASEAN member countri

The home-based and locally recruited staff of the Embassies of five ASEAN member countries i.e. Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, including special guest Timor Leste, based in Havana, Republic of Cuba held an inaugural ASEAN Games on Sunday, 16 November 2008. The Games was held at the residence of H.E. Banua Radja Manik, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia. The first event held was table tennis. Participants from the Vietnamese Embassy were champions and first runner-up while the representatives from the Malaysian Embassy, Mr Mohd Fareed Zakaria and Mr Nazri Said were second runner up. Other types of events scheduled to be held in the future include badminton, beach volleyball, bowling, chess, darts, futsal and golf; depending on the availability of the facilities in Cuba.

The ASEAN Games came about from an original idea proposed by the Ambassador of Malaysia and the Ambassador of Indonesia. Its main objective was to further enhance and strengthen the friendship and cooperation among members of both HBS and LRS of the ASEAN Embassies in Havana, and to maintain as well as to promote a healthy lifestyle. The ASEAN Games is also the first such games ever held by any diplomatic regional grouping in Cuba. The Cambodian Embassy was unable to participate at the Games due to unforeseen circumstances.

The Malaysian Team (from left to right) Mr. Rodovaldo Díaz (LRS); Mr. Samzah Jamirin, Third Secretary; Mr. Mohd Fareed Zakaria, Second Secretary / Head of Chancery; H.E. Yean Yoke Heng, Ambassador; Mr. Inti Alvarez (LRS); and Mr. Nazri Said, Personal Assistant to the Ambassador.

Ambassador Yean Yoke Heng and Mr. Inti Alvarez (LRS) playing against the Laotian team.

Mr. Mohd Fareed Zakaria and Mr. Nazri Said in action.

Mr. Nazri Said in action and ready to serve to begin the match.

Mr. Mohd Fareed Zakaria returning the ball.

Mr. Samzah Jamirin and Mr. Rodovaldo Diaz (LRS) in action against the Indonesian pair of Mdm. Dewi Kejora, (Counselor / Head of Chancery) and her spouse, Mr. Muljo Karsilo.

H.E. Yean Yoke Heng in deep discussion with H.E. Banua Radja Manik, Ambassador of Indonesia.

H.E. Yean Yoke Heng with H.E. Phouangkeo Langsy, Ambassador of Laos and H.E. Banua Radja Manik.

Mr. Mohd Fareed Zakaria discussing strategies for his upcoming match with the LRS.

Spectators from the ASEAN Embassies paying full attention and enthralled by the matches being played.

Mrs. Nurul Aini Abu Bakar (spouse of Mr. Samzah Jamirin) and Mrs. Siti Sadiah Ahmad Zaidi (spouse of Mr. Mohd Fareed Zakaria) and their families.

Spouses from the Malaysian and Indonesian Embassies getting to know one another.

Spouses and ladies of the ASEAN Embassies in Havana, Cuba.

Spouses from the Malaysian and Indonesian Embassies getting to know one another.

H.E. Phouangkeo Langsy, H.E. Banua Radja Manik, H.E. Yean Yoke Heng, Mdm. Bernardette Corsino (spouse of the Philippines Ambassador) and H.E. Dr. MacArthur F. Corsino, Ambassador of the Philippines.

Ambassador Yean Yoke Heng delivering his closing remarks on behalf of all the ASEAN Ambassadors.

H.E. Yean Yoke Heng announcing the winners of the Inaugural ASEAN Games.

End of the Inaugural ASEAN Games in Havana, Republic of Cuba.