A launch ceremony for the 3rd Melco Star Youth Talent Competition was held yesterday at Studio City in Cotai, with preliminary rounds set to take place in October, while the final and prize-giving ceremony is slated for November.
Details of the contest, which is co-organised by Melco Resorts & Entertainment and the National Conditions Education (Macau) Association, were announced at the ceremony.
First held in 2019, the competition, which a Melco statement yesterday said is organised “to instil national pride and patriotism through education of Chinese culture”, has garnered participation of a total of 2,360 students who delivered nearly 300 Chinese Cultural arts performances in dance, song and recital acts.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho Yau-lung said in his speech yesterday that in the past two events, “we have been impressed by the artistic performances and talent of the contestants, aged 5 to 18 years old, from 56 schools in Macau”.
Ho added that this year’s contest features international judges, namely The House of Dancing Water’s Artistic Director Giuliano Peparini and The Planet Entertainment’s founder and Creative Director Kriman Benbella.
Moreover, National Conditions Education (Macau) Association President Jack Wang (王海濤) said in his speech that the contest’s objective since its inception has been “to develop a comprehensive platform for youth to integrate their display of talent, communication, learning, and growth”.
“We believe that through hosting this competition, we will not only showcase the versatility and youthful vitality of Macau’s youth, but also inspire their love for the country and Macau”, he added.
Lin Dan Badminton Open to be held in Studio City
Meanwhile, the company also announced in a separate statement last night that the “Melco Style Presents: 2024 Macau Lin Dan Cup Badminton Open” will take place at the Studio City Event Centre next month, marking the first time it will be held in Macau since it launched in 2020.
The statement noted that the “Lin Dan Cup” has been held at eight “stops” since 2020 and has attracted nearly 1,000 players from Canada, the Chinese mainland, Malaysia, Thailand and the UK, among others.
The upcoming event, for which registration started yesterday and officially kicks off on September 14, will feature a Men’s Singles event, with the prize money for champions reaching up to 300,000 yuan (336,215 patacas), the statement said.
Lin Dan, a former professional badminton player from the mainland who won gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, was quoted by the statement as saying: “Ahead of the first ever National Games to be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau in the Greater Bay Area in 2025, it is of great significance to be hosting the event in Macau.
Lin also won 20 world championships during his professional career and is the only badminton player in the world to achieve two “Grand Slams”, the statement said.
Melco Board Director Clarence Chung Yuk Man was also quoted by the statement as saying: It is an honour to cooperate with Lin Dan, who personally oversees this wonderful badminton event soon to be held in Macau for the first time to promote both badminton and Macau’s development as a distinguished ‘City of Sports’”.
Tickets priced from 80 patacas will be available from August 23 on the Studio City website.
The event will be on September 14-15.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho Yau-lung delivers a speech during yesterday’s launch ceremony for the 3rd Melco Star Youth Talent Competition at Studio City in Cotai.
National Conditions Education Association (Macau) President Jack Wang (王海濤) delivers his speech at yesterday’s launch ceremony. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
