Macao’s six gaming concessionaires will submit proposals to the government next month about major sporting events that they plan to organise.
Speaking during a Q&A session at the Legislative Assembly, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U, who oversees the sports sector, said that the annual Macau Grand Prix attracts a large number of tourists, while the FIBA [International Basketball Federation] 3X3 Macao Masters-Wynn Cup, WTT [World Table Tennis] Champions Macao 2022 presented by Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) and the GEG Macao International Marathon had all been “successful examples” of sports tourism during the three-year Covid-19 pandemic when Macao’s sporting events were mainly promoted to the mainland market.
Ao Ieong said that future major sports events will be held by “big organisations” but coordinated by the government, which, she said, could help the sporting events gradually become more market-orientated.
Ao Ieong also said that the government has been working to optimise the arrangements and planning of the city’s sporting events, adding that it is studying the feasibility of incorporating the Cotai Strip into the international marathon’s route, taking into account the city’s overall conditions and local traffic environment.
She also said that the government was even considering holding the international marathon on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, but the event would still require the Hong Kong and Zhuhai governments to resolve the immigration issues involved, which would require further study.
In addition, Ao Ieong said that an opening ceremony will be held today to recruit 10,000 volunteers for the 15th National Games. She said that residents aged 16 or above, including mainland Chinese and overseas students studying in Macao, could apply. Senior citizens are also welcome to take part in the volunteer programme, she added.
Macau Government Tourism Office Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes told the lawmakers that the National Games are an opportunity to expand Macau’s international tourism market, adding that the government was preparing to launch funding for side events of the National Games in 2025, with the aim of supporting local communities to launch more “sports + tourism” activities.
For the first time, the National Games will be jointly hosted by Macao, Guangdong and Hong Kong, The Macau Post Daily reported.
