China fuels enthusiasm on auto racing ( 2003-08-20 10:35) (Xinhua)
The enthusiasm on automobile racing in China was further fanned as two
Chinese cities pledged on Tuesday to jointly promote the image of two
high-profile Grand Prix races.
With a 50-year experience of hosting the Macao Grand Prix Races (MGPR), Macao
is willing to share its organizational experience and provide technical support
and personnel training to assist
Shanghai to host the 2004 Formula One Grand Prix, said Chui Sai On, secretary
for Social and Cultural Affairs in Macao,Tuesday.
The hospitality was echoed by Shanghai's offer to get involved in exploring
the customer market for MGPR in the inland regions this year.
With a fast increase in the ownership of private cars in China, auto racing
is no longer considered a fancy games enjoyed only by westerners. It is gaining
popularity in the Chinese mainland as
the younger generations can afford their own cars.
There is another reason for MGPR gave a special focus to the market this
year. Guangdong Province, Beijing and Shanghai were given green lights by the
central government to pilot a
facilitated individual travel to Hong Kong and Macao beginning from this
month, which is expected to substantially increase the source of spectators to
MGPR.
The deal between Shanghai and Macao is mutually benefiting. Yu Zhifei, deputy
manager of Shanghai Circuit, said that Shanghai is building a state-of-the-art
racing circuit, which will boast the
world's best auto racing facilities in the future years.
However,what Shanghai lacks is the experience of hosting an international
racing event. In this respect, Macao has a specialty with 50 yearsof history of
hosting MGPR, which is almost as long as the history of Formula One races.
Under the framework of the partnership, the two cities will not only work
together in the organization and promotion of the racing events, but also create
competition and training for racing
drivers to get familiar with the racing events in Shanghai and Macao.
MGPR, known as a cradle of Formula One stars, is the pioneer of China's auto
racing sports, which is still catching up with western players. As the world's
only automobile sporting event containing all of Formula Three races, motor
races and classic car races, MGPR will celebrate the 50th birthday in September.
"MGPR is not only a sporting event, but a tourist product to Macao," said
Chui adding that the development of the sports tourism is one of the tourist
policies of the Macao Special
Administrative Region government.
Approximately 180 media organizations from around the world was drawn by MGPR
last year. Over 3.6 billion people from 63 countries and regions watched the
games live or on recorded TV programs.
For this year, tourist arrivals are estimated to hit 11 million during MGPR,
which would equal to last year's total amount. By then, hotel room occupancy
rate in Macao will soar up to 98 percent attributable to the appeal of the
games, during which a variety of activities will be also staged to add the
charms including the Fireworks Display Contest, the Portuguese Wine Festival and
the Macao Food Festival.
