11 December 2014 - The ASEAN Ankara Committee (AAC) held their 3rd ASEAN Diplomats’ Friendly Bowling Tournament on December 06 at Bilkent Roll House Bowling Center at Ilkent University, Ankara. It was the first time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) joined the event, following the suggestion from the Philippines.
The tournament was officially opened with a ceremonial roll of the ball by the respective Ambassadors and Chargé d’ Affaires of ASEAN missions, and the Deputy Director General of the Asia Pacific General Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
This year, a total of 15 teams were formed, with two teams each from the Embassies of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and one team each representing Vietnam and the Asia Pacific Directorate-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, headed by Ms. Armağan Inci Ersoy, Deputy Director General.
In the spirit of fun and camaraderie, the teams competed in two elimination rounds. The top five teams then competed for one knock-out game.
The team from the Embassy of Malaysia was this year’s champion, while the team from the Embassies of Indonesia and Philippines were the second and first runner-up, respectively.
This year’s tournament was organized by the Embassy of Singapore, as Chair of the AAC for 2014, with the assistance of the Embassy of the Philippines, former AAC Chair.
The annual bowling tournament, which started in 2012, under the initiative of the Philippines, is aimed at further enriching the already friendly relations between ASEAN countries and the relations between the ASEAN countries with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The recognition by the MFA of AAC activities is a step forward in enhancing ASEAN’s engagement with Turkey.
The Philippine Embassy’s Ms. Eunice Trinidad, Ms. Rowena Neri and Mr. Darrel Leong of the Singapore Embassy served as the tournament secretariat. END