MEDIA RELEASES
The “10th International Lion Dance Championship 2023 – MGM Cup” came to a successful conclusion today. This year marks the contest’s upgrade to one of the world’s top-class Southern lion dance matches – making Macau a key hub for the international lion dance sports realm – and also its first debut within the local community. Following fierce battles held at Barra Square in front of the world heritage site A-Ma Temple on the first day, the competing troupes moved to the Macao Forum today to continue the rivalry for top titles. The two-day contest has drawn many top athletes worldwide to Macau. In addition, 18 global online channels live-streamed the event, enabling overseas spectators to experience the city’s diverse “tourism+” appeal, registering a total of 3.3 million in online and offline attendance for two consecutive days.
“The 10th International Lion Dance Championship 2023 – MGM Cup” is a lead-off event of the Barra Revitalization Project, giving impetus to the community through MGM’s innovations in cultural tourism. Through the integration of Southern lion dance intangible culture and A-Ma Temple as a world heritage site, MGM hosted the flagship “Lion Dance Championship” and a two-week "MGM Lion Dance Festival" at Barra, drawing over 2,500 visitors into the community to experience the craftsmanship of lion art. Meanwhile, the two-day lion dance competition attracted more than 7,000 on-site spectators.
Shi Jinxin, craftsman of the Foshan Liansheng, who acted as a guest performer at the festival, said: “Lingnan lion dance is the root of the Greater Bay Area, as well as a distinctive cultural symbol of Chinese across the world. This event plays as a platform for lion dance to connect China with foreign communities. We are pleased to collaborate with MGM, jointly drawing on the interaction of culture and tourism, sparking a stronger interest in Lion Dance among residents and tourists, and expanding the global unity and charm of Lingnan culture via Macau as an international city connecting the world.”
With an intention to further extend MGM’s cultural tourism resources into the community, Overseas athletes of the contest were invited to be the first to experience MGM’s coastal tourism program － where they boarded the “Macau Cruise”, set off a pleasant and convenient sail from Barra Pier to Coloane, traversing between Macao Peninsula and Coloane Islands to explore the charm of Macau's two world heritage sites.
The Award Presentation Ceremony was held at the Macao Forum today. It was attended by a line-up of guests, including Ao Ieong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR; Yin Rutao, Deputy Director General of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Leong Wai Man, President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (ICM); Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO); Lam Lin Kio, Acting President of the Macao Sports Bureau (ID); O Lam, Acting Chairman of Administration Committee on Municipal Affairs of Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM); Prof. DR Nurdin Purnomo, Vice Chairman of Dragon & Lion Dance Federation of Asia; Leong I On, Head of Division of Secondary Education of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ); Sit Kai Sin, Chief of Maritime Museum of the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA); Edmund Wong, Vice Director General of Wushu General Association of Macau; Kenneth Feng, President and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited; Catarina Lio, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing of MGM; Irene Wong, Senior Vice President of Public and Community Relations of MGM; and Cristina Kuok, Senior Vice President of Arts and Culture of MGM. The guests presented new prize trophies designed by the MGM design team to the winning teams, marking a successful finish to the event.
The much-anticipated “Freestyle Lion Dance Championship” took place yesterday – during which international top troupes vied against each other for the top honor. Their awe-inspiring acrobatic movements earned cheers and applause from audiences. Lion Dance troupe of Qiaotou, Fuhai, Shenzhen., China became Champion with a score of 9.3, while Hong Kong, China South Lion Dance Team & Myanmar Long De Chuan Ren Dragon and Lion Dance Association won the second and third prizes, respectively.
In the “Women’s Traditional Lion Dance Championship” held earlier today, all female lion teams manifested a great deal of stamina. MGM Golden Lion Troupe - Team A won the top prize with a score of 9.15, while Philippine Wenyang Sports Association and Dragon & Lion Dance Federation of Malaysia Kun Seng Keng Lion and Dragon Dance Association won 1st and 2nd runner-up.
With an intention to promote the passing-down of traditional lion dance culture, MGM founded the “Junior Lion Dance Performance Competition” in 2018 and the “Youth Traditional Lion Dance Championship” in 2022 – with a view to providing an extended stage to nurture local young lion masters. This year, the two matches dedicated to budding lion dance athletes abounded with passion. Mak Chi Leong Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association won the title of Junior Lion King, while Macau Lo Leong Sport General Association clinched the honor of Youth Lion King.
This year’s event is organized by MGM and Dragon & Lion Dance Federation of Asia, co-organized by Wushu General Association of Macau, with the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, ID, MGTO, DSEDJ, ICM, IAM, DSAMA and International Dragon and Lion Dance Federation as supporting unit, and Chinese Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association as advisory unit.
For details of competition results, please refer to the following information:
The “10th International Lion Dance Championship 2023 – MGM Cup”
Results of “Freestyle Lion Dance Championship”
|
Ranking |
Team |
|
Champion |
Lion Dance troupe of Qiaotou, Fuhai, Shenzhen., China (9.3) |
|
1st Runner-up |
Hong Kong, China South Lion Dance Team (9.21) |
|
2nd Runner-up |
Myanmar Long De Chuan Ren Dragon and Lion Dance Association (9.16) |
Results of “Women’s Traditional Lion Dance Championship”
|
Ranking |
Team |
|
Champion |
MGM Golden Lion Troupe - Team A (9.15) |
|
1st Runner-up |
Philippine Wenyang Sports Association (9.06) |
|
2nd Runner-up |
Dragon & Lion Dance Federation of MalaysiaKun Seng Keng Lion and Dragon Dance Association (9.0) |
Results of “Youth Traditional Lion Dance Championship”
|
Ranking |
Team |
|
Champion |
Macau Lo Leong Sport General Association (9.10) |
|
1st Runner-up |
Lion Dance troupe of Qiaotou, Fuhai, Shenzhen., China (9.05) |
|
2nd Runner-up |
Associação Desportiva“Ou Kong Si San Kit Yee Tong”de Artes Marciais Chinesas (8.85) |
Results of “Junior Traditional Lion Dance Championship”
|
Ranking |
Team |
|
Champion |
Mak Chi Leong Dragon & Lion Dance Sports Association (8.93) |
|
1st Runner-up |
Clube Desportivo Ip Ü de Macau (8.88) |
|
2nd Runner-up |
MGM Golden Lion Troupe - Team B (8.88) |
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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 only mega complex and hotel in Macau to gain three-star certification in both Green Building Design and Operation Label, as well as the first hotel in the Greater Bay Area and second in Greater China to receive the certifications.
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
Executive Director of Public Relations
MGM
Tel: (853) 8806 3412
Email: jessiekuan@mgm.mo
Karen Lam
Senior Corporate Relations Manager
MGM
Tel: (853) 8806 3421
Email: karenlam@mgm.mo
