Briefs | Indonesia representative assumes office

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced that its newly-appointed representative in Indonesia has come into operation and will actively expand the Indonesian tourism market for Macau in line with the direction of the region’s tourism development. MGTO hosted a dinner in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia yesterday and announced its appointment of VFS Global Services Private Limited as its new representative in Indonesia. The office invited 60 guests to the dinner, including members of the travel trade and media in Indonesia as well as Macau’s travel trade. During the dinner, MGTO Director Helena de Senna Fernandes remarked that tapping into the potential of the Indonesian market, MGTO has set up its first representative in Indonesia since 2009 to assist the Office in expanding the Indonesian source market and encouraging more international visitations to Macau.

Macau to take part in inaugural AFC Solidarity Cup

Macau is set to be one of the teams to take part in the inaugural AFC Solidarity Cup, which will take place November 2 to 15 in Malaysia. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the draw recently in Kuala Lumpur. Group A will consist of Nepal, Pakistan, Brunei, Timor Leste/Chinese Taipei and Bhutan/Bangladesh. Group B meanwhile will comprise of Sri Lanka, Macau, Mongolia and Maldives/Laos. According to an AFC statement, the participants of the tournament are countries that will not feature in the later stages of the AFC World Cup qualification, or the Asian Cup qualification, and “who have little opportunity to organize friendly international matches.”

Local swimmer takes part in Rio Paralympic Games

Macau athlete Chen Yu Chia is representing Macau in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, where he will compete with swimmers from the rest of the world. Chen will participate in the Men’s 200 Meters Freestyle September 8, followed by the Men’s 200 Meters Individual Medley event September 10, both at Rio de Janeiro local time. In the last two Paralympics, held in London and Beijing, Macau sent two athletes, who competed for the territory in the categories of wheelchair fencing, track and field, and swimming. More than 4,400 athletes from 160 countries and regions are competing at the Rio Paralympics Games, including two refugees.