The annual “SJM Macao International Dragon Boat Races” slated for June 8-10 is calling for entry submissions and applications from teams interested in joining this year’s races which will be accepted from tomorrow and next Wednesday respectively.
A press conference was held yesterday at The Grand Pavilion of the Grand Lisboa Palace (GLP) integrated resort in Cotai.
In his speech, Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun said that co-hosted by his bureau, SJM Resorts and the China-Macau Dragon Boat Association, the “spotlight” event featuring “a fusion of sporting competitions and Chinese traditional customs” will take place over three “exhilarating” days at the Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, aiming to foster the local development of water sport, in addition to celebrating the city’s rich Chinese heritage.
After the speech delivered by Pun, SJM Managing Director Daisy Ho Chiu Fung said during the press conference she expected the races to draw more “international” visitors to Macau.
Both Pun and Ho encouraged dragon boat teams worldwide to join the races and engage in mutual learning, thus fostering the development of local sporting talent.
According to the press conference, limited places are available in this year’s local races, in which there will be 60 teams in the Open Category and 24 teams in the Women’s Category for the Macao Small Dragon Boat Race; 18 teams for the Macao Government Departments* Small Dragon Boat Race; 12 teams in the Open Category for the Students Small Dragon Boat Race; and 36 teams in the Open Category and 18 teams in the Women’s Category for the Macao Standard Dragon Boat Race.
Speaking to the media after the press conference, Pun said that the bureau was keen to invite teams from around the world such as from Australia, the Philippines and Thailand, as well as various other countries and regions, adding: “We’re contacting them all, and all of them are very interested in competing in Macau”.
This year’s Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 10.
Moreover, Pun revealed that the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) Ice Hockey World Championships will be held in Macau for the first time next month, adding that a press conference about the large-scale event will be held in due course.
*The term “department” refers to various kinds of government entities such as bureaus, police forces and the fire brigade. In Macau’s public administration structure, a “department” is a unit of a bureau.
Representatives of the 2024 SJM Macao International Dragon Boat Races co-organisers, including Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun (centre) and SJM Managing Director Daisy Ho Chiu Fung (second from left), pose during yesterday’s press conference at The Grand Pavilion of the Grand Lisboa Palace (GLP) integrated resort in Cotai. – Photo: Yuki Lei
