A Volleyball Grand Prix in Macau
Pun Weng Kun
The president of Macau Sports Development Board (ID), Mr Pun Weng Kun, confirmed that the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix would return to the territory this year after a year of absence. Pun was speaking on the sidelines of the press conference for the 2016 Macau International Dragon Boat Races.
According to information released by the Volleyball International Federation (FIVB), the event in Macau is set to happen between June 17 and 19, and will feature the national teams of China, Brazil, Serbia and Belgium, playing for the Pool D1 of Group 1.
The opening game will occur on June 17 at 4 p.m. when Brazil will take on Serbia. The official opening ceremony is set to be staged ahead of the second game of the day (China vs Belgium) at 8 p.m.
The tournament will close on Sunday afternoon (June 19) following the game between China and Brazil. All the games will be played at the Macau Forum.
The return of the Volleyball World Grand Prix is one of the major events planned for the year and is the fulfillment of one of the three major goals for the newly appointed president of the ID. Pun’s two other goals are the organization of the Macau Grand Prix and the expansion of the public sports facilities’ network.
“Besides our traditional sports activity, this year’s Macau Grand Prix will be organized by the ID and we will do the best we can, hoping to reach great achievements,” Pun said. “Regarding the public sports facilities’ network, we are planning to expand it, adding more facilities into this network,” he commented.
When questioned by the Times regarding which of the goals would represent a bigger challenge, the president of ID said: “I feel no pressure with any of them since I have a good team at the ID, and independently of which activity we have to work with I know that everyone will do the best to [make each a] success.”
The fact that it will be the first time that ID organizes such a major event as the GP doesn’t seem to intimidate Pun Weng Kun: “I trust our team in this matter.”
Dragon boat races with ‘cultural parade’ boost
The 2016 edition of the Macau International Dragon Boat Races, set to take place on June 4, 5 and 9 at the Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, will be slightly different this year. A “cultural parade” is planned to occur during the event to complement it.
The president of ID, Pun Weng Kun said on the sidelines of the press conference that the bureau is currently “contacting the foreign teams [in order to get their confirmation]. We hope in the beginning of March we can confirm their names.”
The dragon boat races organizing committee is led by the ID with the support of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) and Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP). Team registration will open on March 1.
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