Champion Organisers 12/09/2012

Dateline Macau

It is not at all difficult to understand why this small island is given the sobriquet “Monte Carlo of the Orient.” Almost all the top Las Vegas Casinos can be found in Macau. The bright colourful neon lights illuminate the city at the hint of dusk and fade off at dawn. The official statistic states that the main economy of Macau (total area 11.4 sq. miles) is manufacturing and tourism. To be precise, the gambling industry is the driving force that keeps the economy going.

Portuguese traders appeared on the shores of Macau in the early 1500s. Macau was officially a colony of Portugal administered from Lisbon in 1557.  Remnants of Portuguese influences can still be found in the architecture and the names of the roads and alleys in the city. Catholicism was the predominant religion existing side by side with the local Chinese faiths. This is not at all surprising because in 1556 Pope Gregory XIII established the Roman Catholic Diocese of Macau. Over centuries, the locals born of Portuguese ancestry were referred to as Macanese. They spoke “Patua,” a Portuguese Creole dialect.  Semblance of Portuguese culture can still be found in the folk dances and perhaps the cuisines but Macau is not Lisbon but through time and history a segment of its people has evolved into the charming Macanese as we know them today.  Mr Duarte Vieira, the WDSF Adjudicator from Portugal, described his experience in Macau as surreal.  The gardens, courtyard, streets and alleys and even the signage are all in the Portuguese language.

8 and 9 September

It is within this colourful backdrop that the Macau DanceSport Federation hosted the WDSF Asian DanceSport Championship an the Macau WDSF Opens.  A total of 320 couples from 16 different countries in Asia competed at the Tap Sec Multisport Pavilion in Latin American and Standard. It is only proper to mention that since DanceSport has been admitted as a medal event in the Olympic family Games, Macau has been at the forefront and played an important role in promoting DanceSport in the region. Macau has played host to the East Asian Games in 2005 and the 2^nd Asian Indoor Games in 2007. Macau has previously hosted and is now hosting for the 3^rd time the WDSF Asian Championship. All this is made possible by the strong support and encouragement by the Macau Sports Development Board. 

Mr Shawn Tay of Singapore was the Chairman of Adjudicators for the event with a host of illustrious WDSF international adjudicators from Russia, Austria, Portugal, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea, Chinese Taipei and China. The mix of adjudicators is to ensure integrity in the judging of DanceSport, fair with no hint of bias or dishonesty. This sporting event and in all WDSF endorsed championships, all the athletes are required to sign the anti doping declaration based on the norms established by World Anti- Doping Agency (WADA).

Maucau DanceSport Federation | Champion Organisers

The best DanceSport athletes from all over Asia were in Macau to showcase their skills and artistry: Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore Malaysia and India.

From the feedback I get from adjudicators as well as athletes, the overall organisation of the championships was excellent. The location of the hotel in relation to the championship venue: just a 3-minute walk.  Ideal for the athletes to move about and rest in between events! The adjudicators’ rooms were readily stocked with refreshment and the championships ran on time with clockwork precision.

I had a chat with Macau DanceSport Federation Director (MDF) Ms Betty Lou. She pointed out to me that the helpers are all volunteers and she gave all the credit to the President, Angela On Kei Leong, commending her on the leadership, patronage and advice to MDF. In 2007, I was also In Macau covering DanceSport for the Asian Indoor Games; it was a memorable and magnificent event, organised in a way that only few countries in the world can match. All Macau championships speak for themselves. Ms Betty Lou was too modest and humble.

Find all results of the 2012 Asian Championships and Macau Opens here.