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The 2013 Bun Carnival is coming soon. The Bun Scrambling Competition, which is the finale of the event, will be held on the soccer pitch, Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, on the night of May 17. Physically fit people aged 18 or above are welcome to take part in the event by submitting applications from tomorrow (February 21) to March 21.
Bun scrambling, one of the highlights of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, is a well-known traditional festive event in Hong Kong and has been well received by local people and visitors.
The Bun Scrambling Competition comprises three stages - training on bun tower climbing, selection of finalists and the final competition. Physically fit people aged 18 or above are welcome to join the competition.
The maximum number of entrants is 200. If the applications received exceed the quota, places will be allocated by ballot. Applicants who live, work or study on Cheung Chau will have priority in the ballot.
The China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union will provide selected applicants with safety training sessions on bun tower climbing and prevention of falling on April 28. All selected applicants must attend the safety training sessions before participating in the selection of finalists on the afternoon of May 5.
A total of 12 shortlisted finalists, comprising nine male and three female participants, will compete in the same race during the Bun Scrambling Competition but the results of the men's team and the women's team will be ranked separately. The competition will be held from 11.30pm on May 17 to 12.30am on May 18. Competitors have to scramble for the buns on the bun tower, which carry different scores, within a time limit. The one with the highest total score will be the winner.
As in last year's event, Cheung Chau local organisations and athletes from Hong Kong's neighbouring regions are invited to take part in the Bun Scrambling Invitation Relay, to be held immediately after the individual competition. The three-member teams will compete in the relay and team members will climb the bun tower in sequence to grab designated buns. The team that completes the task in the shortest time will be the winner.
Prospectuses and enrolment forms for the Bun Scrambling Competition will be available from tomorrow at the 18 District Leisure Services Offices of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), sports centres in the Islands District, and from supporting organisers. They can also be obtained from the LCSD website on www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Completed enrolment forms should be returned by hand or by post to the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD at Room 622, 6/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong, on or before March 21. Applicants may also fax the forms to 2854 3949.
Besides the Bun Scrambling Competition, the 2013 Bun Carnival also features a wide array of activities, including training on bun tower climbing, selection of finalists for the competition, the Climbing Carnival and student colouring and drawing competitions.
The Bun Scrambling Colouring Competition is for Islands District kindergarten students while the drawing competition is for the District's primary students, with the aim of promoting the tradition of bun scrambling and local customs among the youngsters.
At the Climbing Carnival to be held on May 12, there will be game stalls featuring the theme of the 4th Hong Kong Games, handicrafts and variety shows for public enjoyment. A Wishing Bun Tower will be set up and winning works of the student colouring and drawing competitions will be displayed. The China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union will give bun tower climbing demonstrations while festival-goers will have the chance to try climbing the bun tower by making on-site applications. In addition, local tertiary institutions, government departments and commercial and industrial organisations are invited to take part in the relay competition.
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the LCSD, the 2013 Bun Carnival will be held at the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, between April 28 and May 18. It is presented with the support of the Cheung Chau Wai Chiu County Association Limited, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Islands District Office and the China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union, and sponsored by Lukfook Jewellery, A.S. Watsons Water and the Islands District Council.
For enquiries, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD on 2852 3220, or visit the LCSD website on www.lcsd.gov.hk .
Ends/Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:17
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