December 5, 2010

The “2010 Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon”, which is one of Macau’s four international sports events, took place today at the Olympic Sport Center Stadium in Taipa.

Scattered amongst this year’s 4,600 excited marathon participants, 300 of GEG’s very own long-distance running enthusiasts gathered at the stadium at 6:00am this morning in anticipation for the start of this year’s marathon race. Standing on this year’s masters-of-races’ podium, Mr. Vong Iao Lek, President of Macau Sport Development Board, Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Deputy Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, Mr. Lam Hin Fu, President of the Macau Athletic Association and Mr. Francis Lui, Vice Chairman of Galaxy Entertainment Group, sounded the starting horns to announce the beginning of this year’s “2010 Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon”. With aims of giving this year’s marathon runners an added energy booster and creating a more visually attractive and scenic marathon experience for participants, GEG switched all the lights on at the two gigantic hotel towers located inside its soon-to-open in early 2011 Galaxy Macau™ resort. Considered a welcoming element, GEG’s gesture succeeds in delighting both local and international marathon runners. In addition, several highly caring and supportive members of the Group’s cheering team also came out to show support for this year’s marathon participants. Splitting their time between GEG’s Galaxy Macau™ and StarWorld Hotel and Casino, the cheering team danced, waved and shouted encouragements to the receptive runners as they journey through the marathon race. Thanking GEG for its outstanding corporate culture and generous contributions to the Macau marathon, Mr. Cheong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture presented a commemorative souvenir to Mr. Lui.

Working as a family, GEG once again takes home the Group Trophy – Public and Private Entities. Many newcomers think the marathon race offers a good opportunity for them to develop a healthier and more active lifestyle and for all GEG staff members gathering together. Ms. Shanti Devi Adhikari completed her 6th Macau marathon with 24 minutes and 46 seconds finishing time – winning the 1st Runner Up in this year’s Category-B Female Mini-Marathon, 2 minutes and 31 seconds faster than her previous year’s record.

Encouraging local students to develop their creativity and writing skills, the organizers introduced the first “Surpass Your Boundary - 2010 Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon” Creative Writing Contest, and during the awards presentation ceremony today, the organizers presented the nine winners with their exceedingly wellattained trophies and prizes. The student winners were, Cheong Weng I – Champion of the Creative Writing Contest; Zhou Xing Hai – 1 st Runner-Up; Chan Kam Kei – 2 nd Runner-Up and Li Ying Ying – 2 nd Runner-Up. In addition, the five students who received Consolation Prizes were Chan Teng Ian, Zhou Wan Ying, Yu Yan, Li Xiao Xin and Si Song Song. The organizers received 100 written submissions, which provide strong evidence that supports Macau students’ writing competencies and reveals that students do in fact have an interest to participate in marathon running. Reading the submissions, the organizers also notices that many of Macau’s younger students consider the marathon as a sport that require perseverance and that they have a general understanding of the history behind marathon’s development, which the organizers consider is a positive sign for Macau to continue developing the local marathon and the city’s sports culture in general. Complimenting the organizers’ find, GEG continues to hand out its sponsored awards to both the local and international male and female Full Marathon Champions, and the winners who obtained the valuable prizes and awards this year were Tekeste Nekatibeb Nurelign, Wang Xue Qin, Lok Wai Kin and Hoi Long.