May 18, 2014 - Macau International Dragon Boat Races 2014 will be kicked off at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre in just two weeks. Last Thursday, GEG held a traditional benediction ritual at the race venue to deliver best wishes to seven of its dragon boats that are going to compete with international teams in this annual festive event.

The ceremony was held to bestow good luck to the seven dragon boats including Galaxy Stars, Galaxy Pearl, Galaxy Universe, Galaxy Glamour, Galaxy Pioneer, Galaxy Phoenix and Galaxy Elegance. Among the 100 attendees were the GEG executive members including Ms. Eileen Lui, Director of Human Resources & Administration of GEG, Mr. Gabriel Hunterton, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Galaxy Macau™, and Mr. Charles So, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of StarWorld Hotel, who led the team members through some traditional rituals such as dotting the eyes of the dragon boat and cutting the suckling pig. The team members also received red packets as an auspicious beginning for their upcoming competitions.

Delighted to see the significant progress made by the Dragon Boat Team over the years, Tyson Hoi, the team captain, said, “GEG Dragon Boat Team will celebrate its tenth anniversary next year. I would like to take this opportunity to thanks the GEG team members for their continued support, especially those who share the same passion with me in building up the Dragon Boat Team. It was their hard work and perseverance that brought us to the impressive accomplishments we had made.” The ceremony ended with the banging of cymbals and drums, and the seven dragon boats then rowed out to the lake to continue their practice sessions.

Entering its 9th year of participation in the Dragon Boat Races, GEG Dragon Boat Team is aiming for a stronger performance this year. The team achieved great result in last year’ races including a championship title and a first runner-up title in the Women’s 500M Standard Dragon Boat Race and 250M Small Dragon Boat Race respectively. Last month, the Staff Social Club of GEG organized a slogan competition for the team members to delivery support to the Dragon Boat Team and to showcase their creative talents. “GEG People, GEG Hearts, GEG Dragon Boat Number One” was selected to be the best slogan and the winner was awarded a cash prize of MOP2,000.

About GEG’s Dragon Boat Team

In 2013, GEG’s Dragon Boat Team took home a gold trophy, a first runner up title and a second runner up title in the three-day Macau International Dragon Boat Races. The team also won four awards in Macau Small Dragon Boat Mid-Autumn Festival Cup last September, including a championship title in the Grand Final of the mixed competition. Moreover, the team participated in International Dragon Boat Race held in Xiamen and was named the overall second runner-up in the entire race.

In 2012, GEG’s Dragon Boat Team proudly brought home 11 awards including the second runner-up won by “Galaxy Pioneer” in Macau International Invitational Standard Dragon Boat Races (500m). “Galaxy Universe” and “Galaxy Elegance” both ranked first runner-ups in men’s and women’s small dragon boat 250M. The two women’s teams “Galaxy Phoenix” and “Galaxy Pearl” also achieved astounding results and claimed championship in the women’s small dragon boat 250M and women’s 500M standard dragon boat race respectively.

In 2011, GEG’s Dragon Boat Team took home a total of 9 trophies in Macau International Dragon Boat Races. These include the champion title won by “Galaxy Stars” in "Macau International Invitational Standard Dragon Boat Races – 500M Open – Category B Final”, as well as the first runner-up and second runner-up titles won by “Galaxy Phoenix” and “Galaxy Elegance” in “Macau Small Dragon Boat Women’s 250m Race”.

In 2010, “Galaxy Glamour” finished second in the “Macau Small Dragon Boat 250M Open Category”; “Galaxy Stars” finished second and third in the “Macau Standard Dragon Boat 2,000M Open” and “Macau Standard Dragon Boat 500M Open Category” races respectively, while “Galaxy Pearl” broke record and finished second at the “Macau Standard Dragon Boat 500M Women’s Category Race”. That summer, GEG’s dragon boat teams received the Macau Sport Development Board’s invitation and participated in the “Macau 2010 7th Club Crew World Championships” and in September, the teams also traveled to Mainland China where they participated in the “2010 China Nanjing Cross-Strait Qinhuai River Dragon Boat Rally” and obtained First Runner-up at the “Standard Boat – Open 20km Rally”.

In 2009, GEG established two all-female dragon boat teams. That year, “Galaxy Glamour” finished second in the “Macau Small Dragon Boat 250M Open Category”; “Galaxy Stars” in second place in the “Macau Standard Dragon Boat 500M Open Category Race” while the two female teams - “Galaxy Phoenix” and “Galaxy Pearl”, finished second in their respective “Macau Small Dragon Boat 250M Women” and “Macau Standard Dragon Boat 500M Women” races.

In 2008, “Galaxy Stars” achieved triumph, claiming Champion at the “Macau International Standard Dragon Boat 2,000M Open Category” and third place at the “Macau Standard Dragon Boat Race 500M Open Category” races.

In 2007, GEG added two more teams, “Galaxy Universe” and “Galaxy Glamour” and received its first recognitions at the “Macau International Dragon Boat Races”. “Galaxy Stars” came in second at the “Macau Standard Dragon Boat 500M Open Category Race” while “Galaxy Universe” came third place at the “Macau Small Dragon Boat 250m Open Category Race. In addition, GEG also received the organizers’ “Fair Play” trophy while “Galaxy Stars” received a special invite to compete in the “Duyan International Dragon Boat Race” later that year.

GEG’s team members established the Group’s first dragon boat voluntarily in year 2005, and in year 2006, the team began competing at the “Macau International Dragon Boat Races”.