Your Excellency the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bhutan, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is with a great sense of humility that I accept this prestigious 2004 Prince Claus Award, conferred by the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development, on behalf of the Bhutan Archery Federation. It is a matter of great privilege and honour for those of us working in the BAF that the humble contributions of the Federation in the preservation and promotion of archery has been recognized by such a prestigious institution as the Prince Claus Fund. We are confident that this recognition will further inspire us to redouble our efforts towards the promotion of the national sport of archery which is an integral part of the culture and traditions of this land.

I would like to believe that this rare recognition accorded by the Prince Claus Fund is a recognition not only of the Bhutan Archery Federation and its activities but also a tribute to His Majesty's wise policy of pursuing the goal of Gross National Happiness, to achieve which the preservation of our tradition and culture is one of the four pillars. Archery in Bhutan is more than a sport, it is a living example and a dynamic manifestation of the unique traditions and culture of the Bhutanese people. In fact, it is a celebration of the Bhutanese way of life. Indeed, for a small country like ours that is sandwiched between the two most populous countries in the world, archery, among others, is a symbol of our national identity.

In 1971, when Bhutan emerged from its long period of self-imposed isolation and became a member of the United Nations, archery was designated the national sport of Bhutan. With this, the present form of the game played in tournament style started gaining popularity. Prior to this, archery was played as a celebration or a contest between two neighbouring villages or regions which still continues today in the rural areas of Bhutan. The exposure of the Bhutanese to modern cultures and other modern sports influenced the way the game was played, yet its original form and style has been maintained to this day.

With the passage of time and the participation of more and more teams, the need for an organization that would organize the tournaments and structure the rules of the game to suit modern styles was felt extremely necessary and thus the Bhutan Archery Federation was born. The Federation that first started functioning in the late 70's initially consisted of a number of informal office bearers who were either appointed or volunteered but had no formal functions or mandates other than to ensure that tournaments were conducted in an organized manner with rudimentary rules and regulations.

It was only on 21 April 1990 that the Federation, then called the National Archery Federation of Bhutan, was formally constituted and the post of President was taken up by the then Minister of Home Affairs, His Excellency Lyonpo Dago Tshering. Following this, a number of Executive Committee members were appointed which, through a series of meetings, provided formal structures to the Federation, fixed responsibilities of the various members and reviewed and reaffirmed the rules and regulations for the sport of archery, which is still followed today with minor revisions and improvements. The main function of the Federation continues to remain the preservation and promotion of the traditional form of archery in Bhutan which is manifested in the Rules framed by the Federation, although the use of modern equipment is allowed.

Today, the Bhutan Archery Federation is privileged to be patronized by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Chhoetse Penlop Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck as its Royal Patron. The development and proliferation of archery in Bhutan has been possible largely due to the examples demonstrated from the Golden Throne by showing a very keen interest in the sport and taking part in archery matches. With such patronage from the Throne, we are confident that archery will continue to grow and develop.

The Federation today is managed, as it was in the early days, by part time volunteers, including myself as the President of the Federation since 1996. With the rapid growth of archery and the activities of the Federation, we would like to see that in the years to come, the Federation is managed by fulltime dedicated members who would work to spread archery activities throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom.

The Federation is also constrained by a lack of an adequate financial support base, due to which we are sometimes unable to carry out all the activities that we would like to and which we feel are necessary. The proceeds of this award will go a long way in allowing the Federation to achieve its objective of fostering, expanding, promoting and perpetuating the sport of archery in the country.

On behalf of the Federation, I would like to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development for deeming us fit to confer upon us this Award and to convey our pledge that the Award would further reinforce our dedication to develop the sport of archery towards the overall development of sports in the country and the preservation of the unique culture of Bhutan.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our well wishers, both within the country and outside, specifically Bhutan+Partners in the Netherlands, for the support that they have continued to bestow upon the Federation over many years. I would also like to offer our sincere gratitude to the Royal Government of Bhutan, without whose patronage and support the Federation would not even exist. Within the limits of the financial constraints that exist, the Federation has been receiving the fullest possible support from the Government. I would also like to place on record the contributions made by the past and present office bearers of the Bhutan Archery Federation without whose commitment, dedication and hard work, it would not have been possible to get the recognition that we have received today.

Finally, I would like to dedicate this award to the people of Bhutan who are essentially responsible for the preservation and promotion of a culture that is dear to every one of us. Without the participation of the people, no culture can be preserved and it is only because of the belief in the importance of our unique traditions and culture that is felt in the hearts of every Bhutanese that we have received this recognition today. Therefore, this award is for the people of Bhutan