http://maigoc2007.sports.sina.com.cn 2007-10-24 MAIGOC
The representative team of the host city of the 2nd Asian Indoor Games, Macao sports delegation attended its ceremony yesterday (23 October) evening. Presiding over the ceremony, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Dr. Chui Sai On encouraged the athletes to fully use their host advantages and give their best to bring honor to Macao.
Attendants in the ceremony included President of Macau Olympic Committee Eddie Laam Wah Ying and Chef-de-Mission Ma Iao Hang, as well as 179 Macau athletes and delegation members. In his speech, Chui Sai On recalled the 1st Asian Indoor Games held in Bangkok two years ago, in which the Macao sports delegation won three golds, six silvers and five bronzes and ranked 10 on the medal tally. He hoped that Macau sports delegation could do an even better job this year by taking the advantage of being the host team.
Chef-de-mission Ma Iao Heng expressed his gratitude for the support from the Special Administrative Region Government and all walks of life in the community. He said that the Macau athletes have immensely improved themselves in terms of morale, sportsmanship and competition level after partaking in various large sports meetings in recent years. Thanks the support from the Government, especially in terms of the the modernization of sports facilities, has a very positive influence on developing local sports. He hoped that apart from aiming at good results, Macao athletes could take the opportunity to communicate with each other and promote Macao’s positive image to the world with sincere and friendly attitude. In this way, we can present to the world Macau’s unique image as the meeting point of East and West with both modernized facilities and traditional cultures, as well as Macau’s determination of holding international sports meeting.
Macao will partake in 16 events in the 2nd Asian Indoor Games, which will kick off this Friday, 26 October. The 16 events include Bowling, Chess Sports, Cue Sports, DanceSport, Dragon and Lion Dance, Extreme Sports (sports climbing), Finswimming, Futsal, Hoop Sepaktakraw, Indoor Athletics, Indoor Cycling, Indoor Hockey, Muay and Short Course Swimming, and two demonstration sports Kurash and 3-on-3 Basketball with 205 athletes participation.
Also participating the ceremony were President of Macau Olympic Committee Eddie Laam Wah Ying, MAIGOC Chairman Manuel Silvério and other sport committee members.
