Thimphu, Bhutan, April 2, 2025: Myanmar sports leaders described how they ran for their lives, after delegates at the OCA-OS Regional Forum 2025 observed a minute’s silence for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar last week.
“We had just finished a meeting at the Sports Ministry when the earthquake hit at 12.15 in the afternoon of March 28. The building began to shake and we ran for our lives,” related Htien Lin, Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and Secretary General of the Myanmar Olympic Committee.
“Luckily all our people in the Ministry managed to get out and there were no casualties. But our building in the capital Naypyidaw was badly damaged,” Deputy Minister Lin said.
The Olympic Council of Asia, and HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, asked delegates to observe a minute’s silence before the two-day forum got underway on Wednesday, April 2.
“The Olympic Council of Asia is shocked and saddened by the terrible earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, March 28. The minute’s silence was out show of support for the two countries,” said the OCA’s Deputy Director General, Vinod Kumar Tiwari.
“Myanmar and Thailand are two important members of the OCA and we send our deepest condolences to everyone who has been affected by the tragedy,” Vinod Tiwari added.
Kyaw Zin Mae, the Deputy Director General at the Myanmar Sports Ministry, revealed many sports facilities in Naypyidaw were seriously damaged.
“At least 11 sports facilities in the capital were badly damaged and will need to be re-built. The worst-hit city was Mandalay but Naypyidaw was also affected,” Kyaw said. “Our elite athletes have seen the facilities where they train demolished overnight.”
The United Nations on April 1 estimated the death toll at 2,719, and expected it to surpass 3,000.
