bc magazine

Hong Kong Cricket Sixes cancelled for 2013

Here’s the press release in full, with the amount of corporate sponsorship $ swilling around the SAR and the high profile of the event. The late cancellation and reason hint that the press release is perhaps not the complete story. The Sixes have grown to become a fun high profile event, lets hope it returns in 2014.

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hong Kong Cricket Sixes cancelled for 2013

[Hong Kong, September 11, 2013]: The Hong Kong Cricket Association
(HKCA) today announced “with great regret” the cancellation of the
Hong Kong Cricket Sixes for 2013.
While the HKCA had examined various options to possibly scale back the
tournament in 2013, it was decided that the established history and
tradition of the Sixes remained the paramount concern.

HKCA remains committed to hosting the Cricket Sixes on an annual basis
and are hopeful that the event can return to the local and
international sporting calendar in 2014.
The Association cited a variety of reasons for the decision not to
proceed with the event this October, but the primary concern was the
difficulty in securing sufficient government funding and private
sector backing in the difficult economic climate.

HKCA Executive Committee released their comment on the announcement saying:
We apologise to the many local cricket fans and our many long-serving
corporate supporters for whom this weekend has been a highlight of the
local calendar for many years, but it was decided by the Executive
Committee that it would be better to cancel rather than leave the
association open to a potentially significant financial loss.

The rejection of the HKCA’s request for Hong Kong SAR Government
funding through the Mega Events Fund was a significant blow to the
Association’s plans to mount the tournament and made finding a
corporate underwriter for the tournament a significantly more
expensive proposition in 2013 with the resulting shortened timeframe
to find a title sponsor further exacerbating matters.

HKCA understands the need to approach government, corporates and the
international cricket boards as early as possible and so will very
shortly start work on the 2014 event and will make every effort to
return the Sixes to its rightful place in the International Calendar
next year.

With Hong Kong being the 20th ranked team in world cricket and
considering the Sixes’ unique history and role as the showcase event
for cricket in China and north Asia, we are still struggling to
understand why we were rejected. But we remain thankful for the strong
support we have received in years past from Government bodies like the
Major Sports Executive Committee, LCSD, Home Affairs Bureau and the
Hong Kong Police.

We will make a further approach to the Mega Events Fund for next year
as we believe that the potential of the Cricket Sixes to enhance Hong
Kong’s position as a premier international sporting and tourism
destination remains as strong as ever.

The Association will stay in close contact with the many existing
corporate partners as well as the numerous companies who expressed
interest in supporting the tournament this year to manage their
expectations and rekindle their excitement for a bigger and better
tournament in 2014.

About the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes
Organized by the Hong Kong Cricket Association since 1992, the Hong
Kong Cricket Sixes is the only international cricket event held in
Hong Kong and is fully sanctioned by the world’s governing body for
cricket, the International Cricket Council.

The tournament has been broadcast live since 2008 and in 2012 reached
over 127 million households on the Indian subcontinent, across
Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South Africa, as well
as being packaged for distribution in North America, the United
Kingdom, Europe and China.

ENDS

HKDRC 36th Hong Kong Green Half Marathon and 10K Run – 3 November, 2013

Entries are now open for the HKDRC 36th Hong Kong Green Half Marathon and 10K Run 2013 at www.hkdrc-race.com or by post HKDRC GPO Box 10368, Hong Kong

What: HKDRC 36th Hong Kong Green Half Marathon and 10K Run 2013
When: 7:30am, 3 November, 2013
Entry details/Runners guide: www.hkdrc.org

Fat Boy Tens Charity Golf & Rugby Tournament @ Clark, The Philippines – 6-8 September, 2013

The Fat Boy 10s – celebrates 10 years of charity rugby, with 16 teams and over 200 rugby lovers from across the globe raising money to feed and vaccinate those in need.

What: Tenth Fat Boy 10s Charity Golf & Rugby Tournament
When: 6-8 September, 2013
Where: Clark Airbase, The Philipines
Details: [email protected]

Hong Kong Scottish Day @ Kings Park – 24 August, 2013

The 3rd Hong Kong Scottish Day takes place on 24th August at Kings Park and marks the start of the HK Domestic season for 2013/14. While already a much anticipated and popular event on the rugby calendar, this year’s tournament will have the added excitement of being the first leg of the first “Kings of the Sevens” series, which will also incorporate the DeA 7s on 7th September and the Country of Origin on 15th March, 2014.

There will be Premiership, Championship and Women’s Divisions, and the draw for the Premiership 7s section at HK Scottish Day has thrown up some mouth-watering clashes to start the season with hosts HK Scottish drawn in a tough group against last year’s league champions Kowloon and runners up HKFC in the Tartan Group, The Presidents VII round off the group.

In the Caledonian Group, DeA will take on Grand Champions Valley and GC runners up HKCC while Tin Shui Wai will be looking spring a surprise or two.

The teams will play in a round robin format within their groups with the winners of each group going into the Cup Final, runners up in the Plate and 3rd place team in the Bowl.

Tartan Group
Hong Kong Scottish
Kowloon Rugby Club
Hong Kong Football Club
Presidents VII

Caledonian Group
Valley
DeA
Hong Kong Cricket Club
Tin Sui Wai

What: HK Scottish Day
When: 12 noon, 24 August, 2013
Where: King’s Park
How Much: Free

Hong Kong Football 2013-14 Season

While many football fans will have their eyes turned towards the television as Europe’s leagues begin their 2013-14 seasons, there’s also a lot of local football to watch and cheer. 49 teams compete across 4 divisions, the Division 1 season kicks off on the 30^th August with 11 teams looking to replace 2013 Champions South China at the top of the table come seasons end. Details of fixtures can be found on the the Hong Kong Football Association website www.hkfa.com which also feature details of junior teams, skills training and for those looking for a challenge a free fantasy HK Football Manager League.

Not a Fighter, a Lover – Manny Pacquiao

What, you may ask, is the breakfast of champions? Well the breakfast of the world’s foremost champion, boxing legend and Filipino Congressman Manny Pacquiao, is one for the history books.

Breakfast time in the ‘Pac-man’ household is a banquet of Tudoresque proportions, consisting of no less than steak, watermelon juice, oatmeal, steamed fish, bottled water, asparagus, steamed rice and fresh melon, the sporting icon told bc magazine’s Madeleine Ross who stepped into the ring to find out more about the man before his hotly anticipated November fight against American, Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios.

The 12-round welterweight clash to be held at The Venetian in Macao on November 24 will be the first time Pacquiao has picked up his gloves since a crushing defeat against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez last December. The boxing world has pegged the November battle as Pac-man’s illustrious comeback.

Pacquiao’s story is even harder to fathom than his breakfast. At 34 he’s lived a Hollywood screenplay; he was raised by a single mother in abject poverty, forced onto the streets at 14 with little prospects, and began boxing as a means to survive.

Fast forward twenty years, and Pacquiao is the highest paid athlete in the world, according to ESPN, and the first and only eight-division world boxing champion, in which he has won six world titles.

But boxing is just one string to the Pac-man’s bow. Three years ago he was elected to Congress and this year won a second term as representative of the province of Sarangani.

He believes his boxing prowess has trained him for politics by making him “a fighter to fight poverty and fight corruption”. Many foresee him as President one day, and, as The Philippines’ most celebrated export, and a local deity, it’s by no means an unlikely prospect. He’s also leading the nation’s campaign against sex trafficking.

His nature outside the ring is wholly at odds with his famed aggression exhibited within it. Gentle and softly spoken, the Pac-man is at once incredibly shy and entirely self-possessed. Talking one-on-one he radiates boyish innocence and enthusiasm – his own disarming brand of charm.

So how does he balance the drive to fight with innate tranquillity?
“In the ring it’s different,” he says. “In the ring you have to protect yourself – to fight like a warrior.

“But outside the ring I’m a lover,” he smiles cheekily. “Not a fighter, but a lover.”

Adding to his persona as the world’s most unlikely boxer is his angelic singing voice. Pacquiao has recorded a number of singles including a duet with 80s pop singer Dan Hill, covering ‘Sometimes When We Touch’.

So what kind of music is he into at the moment? “I really love music, different kinds, it depends on my mood. I like slow rock,” he says.

One of his advisors prompts him – “Who do you listen to when you train?”

“Shakira!” He exclaims in his mellow Manny way, a huge grin plastered across his face, before breaking into a hearty schoolboy laugh. “I like her.”

As for boxing in China, Pacquiao can’t wait to bring the fight East.

“The Philippines is only an hour and a half away [by plane] so I’m expecting more Filipinos than Mexicans are going to watch,” he smiles. ‘The Mexecutioner’ is one of his nicknames, although not one he endorses.

The fight marks the biggest push yet from Macao’s Sands China resort group to create an entertainment hub comparable to Vegas’ finest. If they’ve got the formula right there are 1.3 billion chances they’ll reap serious profits, both in ticket sales and pay-per-view.

But considering China has essentially been absent from professional boxing to date, will the push pay off?

“Hopefully [the fight] will encourage them to promote professional boxing in China and that’s good for us,” says Pacquiao.

We can’t wait to watch Pac-man and Bam-Bam go fist-to-fist.

What: Pacquiao vs. Rios: The Clash in Cotai
When: 24 November, 2013
Where: CotaiArena, Venetian, Macau
How Much: $9,880, $6,480, $3,880, $1,880, $880 from www.cotaiticketing.com

Barclays Asia Trophy 2013

The Barclays Asia Trophy is a four-team pre-season friendly football tournament held this year from the 24 to 27 July 2013 at the Hong Kong Stadium and in Asia every two years and in odd years, to avoid conflicts with the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Football Championship tournaments. The competition is contested by three Premier League football clubs, this year’s boasts Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and the home team, South China, winner of the 2012/2013 Hong Kong First Division League.

The semi-finals took place on 24 July 2013, but with torrential rain and extremely poor conditions as the pitch turned into a mud bath, the games were played over 80 minutes, rather than the usual 90 minutes. In the first game, Sunderland beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 to proceed to the final. Manchester City defeated South China 1–0 in the other semi-final.

Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: “We are hugely excited at the Premier League to be bringing the Barclays Asia Trophy back to Hong Kong for a third time. The 2011 tournament was without doubt our most successful to date and the atmosphere inside the Hong Kong Stadium on both nights was particularly memorable. I believe we are bringing to the Barclays Asia Trophy Hong Kong our strongest ever line-up of teams. In Manchester City, we have the Barclays Premier League runner up taking part. Tottenham Hotspur play the exciting attacking brand of football that makes the Premier League the most watched league in the world, while Paolo Di Canio ahead of his first full season in the Barclays Premier League is sure to bring a tough Sunderland side to Hong Kong. “They are clubs of outstanding pedigree and history who represent the best of the Barclays Premier League: they have some of the world’s best footballers, they are winners and they also have many fans in Hong Kong that they are looking forward to entertaining.”

Andre Villas-Boas, Tottenham Hotspur Head Coach said: “We’re delighted to have the chance to play in the Barclays Asia Trophy, a tournament the Club won when we last took part, in 2009. Over recent years we have seen a significant increase in our fan base across Asia and this tournament provides us with an excellent opportunity to give something back to our supporters in Asia. The tournament is made that much more special for us by the participation of South China FC, a close partner of ours with whom we enjoy a fantastic relationship.”

Mark Sutcliffe, CEO of the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) hopes that local football fans had a good time enjoying the talent on display by the Premier League teams. “The HKFA is proud and honoured to be hosting the 2013 Barclays Asia Trophy,” he said. “When the event was in Hong Kong in 2011 it was hugely popular and a very exciting tournament. The 2013 competition proved to be even more entertaining and to have two of the top five teams in arguably the best league in the world – Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur – playing in Hong Kong is a rare privilege and the third team, Sunderland, proved to be a big draw with their passionate new manager”. South China chairman Steven Lo added “Football in Hong Kong is undergoing a revival at present and it was a real thrill for local fans.” It was South China’s second appearance in the competition, having made their debut when the tournament first came to Hong Kong six years ago and it is especially meaningful to South China fans that we can meet our club partner Tottenham Hotspur again in the match here,”

The Barclays Asia Trophy 2013 is the competition’s sixth edition, with the five previous Premier League Asia Trophy competitions having been played in Kuala Lumpur in 2003, Bangkok in 2005, Hong Kong in 2007, Beijing in 2009 and Hong Kong again in 2011.

What: Barclays Asia Trophy
When: 24, 27 July, 2013 – Wednesday: 6pm, Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland; 8:30pm, Manchester City v South China; Saturday: 6pm, Third place play-off; 8:30pm, Final
Where: Hong Kong Stadium
How much: Wednesday: $500, $350, $300, $250; Saturday: $600, $450, $400, $300 from www.cityline.com

Pacquiao vs. Rios: The Clash in Cotai @ The Venetian – 24 November 2013

After being knocked-out in his last fight many expected Manny Pacquiao to retire his boxing legend status firmly inked in the boxing’s annals. But no, the Pacman wants at least one more night in the ring and tickets for his 12-round welterweight rumble against Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios at The Venetian go onsale 29 July, 2013 from CotaiTicketing.

Special Offer:
Fists of Gold II ticket holders, A Reserve or above can purchase one advance ticket in any category for Pacquiao vs. Rios: The Clash in Cotai for each A Reserve or above Fists of Gold II ticket presented at the Cotai Arena box office, from 3 p.m. July 27 until 2 a.m. July 28, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. July 28. This exclusive pre-sale offer is available only at the Cotai Arena box office, for a maximum of six tickets per person, subject to availability.

What: Pacquiao vs. Rios: The Clash in Cotai
When: 24 November, 2013
Where: CotaiArena, Venetian, Macau
How Much: $9,880, $6,480, $3,880, $1,880, $880 from www.cotaiticketing.com