New World Harbour Race 2016 Record Number of 2,734 International and Local Swimmers
- Charles Peterson and Sharon Van Rouwendaal clinched the champion titles in international category
- Five Hong Kong Swimming Team Members of the Rio Olympics participated in the charity category
- 19 Young Swimmers from the New World Springboard finished the race with encouraging results
New World Harbour Race 2016, title-sponsored by New World Development Company Limited (New World Group) and organised by the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association (HKASA), was held today at Victoria Harbour. Since the re-launched in 2011, New World Habour Race has gained massive support from the public and created enthusiastic crowds along both sides of the harbour. This year, a record number of 2,734 swimmers took part in this iconic annual sporting event and elite swimmers from around the globe competed for the championship in the International Category. To further enhance the atmosphere, the organiser arranged a game for swimmers to pass along large inflatable balls at the starting area.
The carnival at the Quarry Bay Park provided a wide range of booth games and giveaways to the public. The main attraction of the carnival was the photo booth, which allowed participants to take artistic and creative photos just like the artistic shots of the Hong Kong swimming team members. Youth Square, managed and operated by New World Facilities Management, also arranged an amazing performance at the medal presentation ceremony.
The 1500-metre New World Harbour Race 2016 was kicked off at the Sam Ka Tsuen Public Pier in Lei Yue Mun, Kowloon and finished at the Quarry Bay Park Public Pier. The gun-firing ceremony at 8:30am was officiated by CY Leung, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment, Gary Chen, Executive Director and Joint General Manager of New World Development Company Limited, Leonie Ki, Executive Director of New World Development Company Limited, and Ronnie Wong, President of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association.
The International category brought another Olympics scene along the Victoria harbour, overseas elite swimmers including the gold medallist of Rio 2016 Olympics competed for the championship. Trophies of the International Category Individual Men & Women went to Charles Peterson (United States) and Sharon Van Rouwendaal (Netherlands) by clocking 16:44.3 and 16:55.9 respectively.
Ronnie Wong, President of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association, said, “New World Harbour Race is a highly-anticipated annual swimming event, the enrolment quota of this year has been raised from 2,500 to 3,000 to allow more swimmers to enjoy the historic experience of swimming across Victoria Harbour. With the wave of Rio Olympics, the Race invited Hong Kong Swimming Team Members to join the charity category and successfully drew some of the world’s best swimmers to compete alongside local swimmers, enhancing the Race’s international status.”
As the title sponsor of New World Harbour Race 2016, Gary Chen, Executive Director and Joint General Manager of New World Development Company Limited, said, “We are truly honoured to have been the title sponsor of this incredible event for the sixth consecutive year. Congratulations to the 19 young swimmers of New World Springboard who accomplished the race with encouraging results and experience the energetic spirit of Hong Kong.”
In the K11 Harbour Race Youth Category Men’s and Women’s Individual Aged 12-16, Tam Sze Shing Thomas and Chui Tak Yi won the race by clocking 18:14.0 and 20:01.8 respectively. On the other hand, local swimmers Sin Chin Ting Keith and Li Hannah Hang Fung were declared the male and female champions in the Open (A) Aged 17-34 Individual category, with the time of 18:28.5and 21:06.0 respectively. Champions of the Open (B) Aged 35-59 Individual, Jestroem Lennart Peter Fredric and Slater Sheryl Lynn clinched the top titles by clocking 20:10.5 and 23:34.6; while in the Open (C) Aged 50 or Above Individual, Burton Scott James and Kwoh Mary Dick Yuen who finished in 23:26.8and 23:25.6, took the trophies. Champions of the Invitation category went to Kong Chun Yin of Hong Kong Fire Services Department and Lau Yu Yan of Hong Kong Police Force who clocked 21:13.3 and 31:48.6 respectively.
All swimmers finished New World Harbour Race within 1 hour and 15 minutes this year. The oldest and youngest swimmers, aged 77 and 12, successfully finished the race in high spirits. Full results of the race will be uploaded to the New World Harbour Race website at www.hkharbourrace.com/?lang=hk.
About New World Development Company Limited
New World Development Company Limited Founded in 1970, New World Development Company Limited (“The Group”, Hong Kong stock code: 00017) was publicly listed in Hong Kong in 1972 and is a constituent stock of the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index. A premium brand infused with a unique personality defined by The Artisanal Movement, New World Group’s core business areas include property development, infrastructure and services, department stores and hotels. The Group has an effective interest of approximately 61% in NWS Holdings Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 00659), approximately 72% in New World Department Store China Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 00825). New World China Land Limited is wholly owned by the Group.
About the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association
Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association (“HKASA”) was founded in early 1950 by the President, Mr. A. de O. Sales, and it took part for the first time in the Olympic Games in Helsinki 1952 with four swimmers. It was subsequently registered under the Societies Ordinance on 28th April 1960. It is a member of the Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA), Asian Swimming Federation (AASF) and Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF & OC). It is the sole governing body of swimming sports in Hong Kong covering all swimming, diving, water polo, synchronised swimming, open water swimming and masters competitions and activities here. In the past 60 years, the Association has been promoting and developing swimming sports, thus raising the standard of swimming, nurturing elite swimmers and providing training to athletes, officials, judges and coaches in Hong Kong through organising different competitions, training courses and relevant teaching activities. The Association now has over 120 affiliated clubs with over 8,000 registered athletes, offering all properly accredited persons the opportunity to represent Hong Kong in a wide range of competitions and meetings here and abroad.