Thimphu, Bhutan, October 11, 2022: Sonam Norbu, with the assistance of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, will represent Bhutan at the inaugural FIG Parkour World Championship in Tokyo from October 14-16.
A delighted Norbu, describing how it all happened, said: “When I got the call from Bhutan Olympic Committee for a meeting with Mr. Morinari Watanabe, the President of FIG (International Gymnastics Federation), I didn’t quite know what was happening. To my biggest surprise, Watanabe-san asked if I wanted to participate in the first FIG Parkour World Championship representing Bhutan.
“Of course I said yes. Going to Tokyo, I’m excited at the prospect of meeting other athletes who do what I do. I am certain I will return to Bhutan with many new ideas. I want to do something new in the country and carve out new opportunities, especially for the youth,” Norbu added.
Parkour is an athletic training discipline in which participants attempt to get from point A to point B in the most fluid and efficient way possible – traversing environmental obstacles by running, climbing or leaping.
FIG president Watanabe visited Thimphu last month when he met HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, His Majesty’s Representative, International Olympic Committee Member and President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee.