New World Harbour Race 2013 Returns on 6 October Featuring International Swimmers
New World Development Company Limited (New World Group) and the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association (HKASA) are proud to announce New World Harbour Race 2013, which will be held on 6 October 2013 (Sunday). The outstanding reception given to the Race in 2012 has led to this year's enrolment quota being raised to 2,000 participants. The Race this year will be divided into the racing group and the leisure group for the general public.
New World Group is the title sponsor of the Race for the third consecutive year. The Race has once again been named a Brand Hong Kong event and has been awarded the M Mark Status by the Major Sports Events Committee. This year's Race has also been recognised as an official activity of the Hong Kong: Our Home campaign. The HKASA has invited international elite swimmers to take part in this iconic local event, boosting Hong Kong's international image and giving local swimmers the chance to meet and learn from some of the world's best swimmers.
Dr Ng Kin-sun, Vice President of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association, said, "The Harbour Race is part of the collective memory of Hong Kong people. To allow more people in our community to take part in this unique event and enjoy the experience of swimming across Victoria Harbour, the enrolment quota has been raised from 1,800 to 2,000. A special leisure group element has also been included so that more qualified non-competitive swimmers can take part in this major event."
Mr Gary Chen, Executive Director and Joint General Manager of New World Development Company Limited, said, "The Group has long been dedicated to supporting the development of local sports. We launched the New World Swimming Academy with the HKASA in 2012, which offers no fewer than five years of free swimming training to children from low-income families. The Academy has quickly made an impact, and some of our young swimmers are already eligible to take the test for this year's Race."
Mr Chen continued, "I sincerely hope this year's Race will continue to show the indomitable spirit of Hong Kong people and that its developing profile will help it become a major event on the international sports scene."
New World Harbour Race 2013 is divided into two main groups. The racing group comprises five categories: the youth category (aged 12 to 16), the open A category (aged 17 to 34), the open B category (aged 35 to 49), the open C category (aged 50 or above) and the international category. The leisure group is open to all eligible swimmers aged 12 or above and does not offer awards or rankings.
New World Harbour Race 2013 will commence at 8:30am on 6 October 2013 (Sunday). The race course stretches for approximately 1.5km, from the Sam Ka Tsuen Public Pier in Lei Yue Mun in Kowloon to the Quarry Bay Park Public Pier on Hong Kong Island. All swimmers must be certified as meeting the HKASA's entry requirements for the Race. A water trial will apply to applicants without HKASA-accredited race records.
As the title sponsor, New World Group is offering awards to the top three winners of each race category. To encourage the participation of talented young swimmers, K11, a subsidiary of New World Group, has sponsored the K11 Harbour Race Young Swimmers Cup for the 12 to 16 age group.
Honourable guests who attended the New World Harbour Race 2013 Press Conference include Mr Ma Fung-kwok, Member of the Legislative Council; Mrs Betty Fung, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; Dr Ng Kin-sun, Vice President of the HKASA; Mr Ronnie Wong, Honorary Secretary of the HKASA; Mr Gary Chen, Executive Director and Joint General Manager of New World Development Company Limited; Ms Leonie Ki, Executive Director of New World Development Company Limited and Ms Maria Cheung, General Manager of Corporate Communication of New World Development Company Limited.
Registration will start from tomorrow, 7 June 2013. For more information on the Race, please visit www.hkharbourrace.com
New World Development Company Limited
New World Development Company Limited ("The Group"; Stock Code: 17.HK) is a leading conglomerate based in Hong Kong. The Group was founded in 1970 and publicly listed in Hong Kong in 1972. It is a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Index with a total asset value of HK$311 billion as at 31 December 2012.
For more than four decades, the Group has expanded from a single focus on the property business to four core areas: property, infrastructure, services and department store. As at 31 December 2012, the Group has an effective interest of approximately 61% in NWS Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 659.HK), approximately 69.8% in New World China Land Limited (Stock Code: 917.HK) and approximately 72.3% in New World Department Store China Limited (Stock Code: 825.HK).