MEDIA RELEASES
“MGM Lion Dance Championship – Macau International Invitational 2019” has been kicked off today at the MGM Theater. Co-hosted by MGM and Wushu General Association of Macau, and supported by Macao Government Tourism Office, Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Sports Bureau and Dragon & Lion Dances Federation of Asia, the two-day Championship gathers champion lion dance teams from 11 different regions to fiercely compete for the throne of lion dance this year. Highlighting the inheritance of this Chinese traditional sport, the opening ceremony of the 8th MGM Lion Dance Championship has especially invited Chan Siew Kee, the grandmaster of lion dance and also known as the “King of Drum”, to lead a group of his grand-disciples from the United States, Singapore and Macau and present an awe-inspiring traditional Shaping-Heshan style Chinese drum performance.
The lively drum performance of the grandmaster and his grand-disciples filled the Theater with sound of drum roll and jubilant atmosphere at the opening ceremony today. Shortly after, the guests of honor, including: Pansy Ho, Co-Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited; Maria Helena De Senna Fernandes, Representative of Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macau SAR Government and Director of Macau Government Tourist Office; Zhu Hong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Chan Weng Kit, President of Wushu General Association of Macau and Chairman of Dragon & Lion Dance Federation of Asia; Chao Kuok Wai, Head of Sports Development Department of Sports Bureau; Wong Chi Iong, Acting Chief of Department of Education of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau; Chao Chi Man, Honorary Chairman of The Organizing Committee of MGM Lion Dance Championship; Grant Bowie, CEO & Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited; and Kenneth Feng, President, Chief Strategic Officer & Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, were invited to the stage and officiate the kick-off ceremony of the event.
Pansy Ho, Co-Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, said at the event, “Lion dance, an always-festive event that best represents our Chinese tradition, is an undivided part of our Lingnan culture. It is an important piece of our heritage that has connected Chinese communities from around the globe for generations. To further promote the inheritance of this traditional sport, last year we created the world’s first ‘Junior Lion Dance Performance Competition’, offering an international stage for our next generation to perform at such young age. As the pioneer of cultural tourism and a trendsetter of the industry, MGM is going to deliver a brand new perspective for all to appreciate this traditional national quintessence, at this innovative venue that blends the old with the new.”
Chan Weng Kit, President of Wushu General Association of Macau and Chairman of Dragon & Lion Dance Federation of Asia, said, “Coming to its eighth edition, MGM Lion Dance Championship has become a much beloved event of Macau, and has drawn the locals and tourists closer to this Chinese traditional sport. We appreciate MGM’s support on promoting the sport on such international stage, and the great deal of effort devoted to making this event a successful one.”
The MGM Lion Dance Championship 2019 features the very best lion dance troupes from Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Macau SAR. The Championship today started with the “Female Traditional Lion Dance Championship”, where nine female lion dance troupes competed fiercely for the championship title. In the afternoon, the “Junior Lion Dance Performance Competition” were on stage, and a total of eight junior teams competed with their best moves for the win.
The Championship will resume tomorrow, with ten lion dance troupes striving to win in the “Traditional Lion Dance Championship”, also the first time where female lion dancers join the battle for the throne. Do not miss this exciting event, with free admission!
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MGM Lion Dance Championship 2019
Program on November 24 (Sunday)
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Time |
Rundown |
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10:00 – 12:30 |
1st Round of Male Lion Dance Championship |
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14:00 – 16:00 |
2nd Round of Male Lion Dance Championship |
|
16:15 – 17:00 |
Closing Ceremony and Award Presentation |
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About MGM
MGM is an abbreviation for MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEx: 2282) and is a leading developer, owner and operator of gaming and lodging resorts in the Greater China region. We are the holding company of MGM Grand Paradise, SA which holds one of the six gaming concessions/subconcessions to run casino games in Macau. MGM Grand Paradise, SA owns and operates MGM MACAU, the award-winning premium integrated resort located on the Macau Peninsula and MGM COTAI, a contemporary luxury integrated resort in Cotai, which opened in early 2018 and more than doubles our presence in Macau.
MGM MACAU is a Forbes Five-Star luxury integrated resort inspired by the arts with every element of the resort infused with creativity and style. MGM MACAU has approximately 600 guest rooms and suites and boasts a number of distinguishing features, including the architecturally stunning European-inspired Grande Praça, housed under a soaring glass ceiling. MGM MACAU’s world class facilities include the MGM Art Space, dedicating over 5,000 square feet to display authentic works of art, conference and event facilities, spa, and seven signature restaurants and bars to fulfill any gastronomic craving. Our property is conveniently located on the Macau Peninsula and is directly connected to the luxury retail shopping complex, One Central.
MGM COTAI is the latest integrated resort of MGM in China. Designed as the “jewelry box” of Cotai, it offers approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites, Asia’s first dynamic theater, meeting space, high end spa, retail offerings and food and beverage outlets as well as the first international Mansion at MGM for the ultimate luxury experience. The Spectacle at MGM COTAI becomes the record holder of the largest free-span gridshell glazed roof (self-supporting) on January 19, 2019, making it the first architectural and structural GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Macau, China. MGM COTAI is being developed to drive greater product diversification and bring more advanced and innovative forms of entertainment to Macau as it grows as a global tourist destination. MGM COTAI is the largest property and the first mega-size complex project in Macau to achieve the China Green Building Design Label Three-Star Certification.
MGM China Holdings Limited is majority owned by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Jessie Kuan
Director of Public Relations
MGM
Tel: (853) 8806 3412
Email: jessiekuan@mgm.mo
Karen Lam
Public Relations Manager
MGM
Tel: (853) 8806 3421
Email: karenlam@mgm.mo
