The torch relay ceremony for the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and 9th Special Olympics Macau (MSO) will commence at 9 a.m. on Saturday in Shenzhen. Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macau will subsequently hold their respective ceremonies at 9:30 a.m., launching simultaneous torch relays.
In Macau, the relay will take place on the peninsula, covering a route of about 2.6 kilometres, Pun Weng Kun, who heads the preparatory office for the upcoming Games, announced during a special press conference yesterday.
The press conference about the torch relay for the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th Special Olympics Macau was held at the Athletes Training and Development Centre in Cotai yesterday.
Pun said in a speech that the torch relay route in Macau integrates the concepts of “cultural integration” and “integration of persons with and without disabilities”, adding that the torch relay will start at Government Headquarters in Nam Van, followed by the relay travelling along Avenida de D. João IV (約翰四世大馬路), Rua do Campo (水坑尾街), Avenida do Infante D. Henrique (殷皇子大馬路), Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (新馬路), and five other streets, ending in Largo do Senado, the city’s main square and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The entire route is designed to be accessible and barrier-free, which is expected to be completed within two hours, Pun said.
Pun noted that a total of 50 torchbearers will participate, with eight selected by the organising committee of the Games and 42 from various local sectors, including local athletes participating in both Games, representatives from disability service organisations, public figures, and others. The diverse participation aims to reflect the spirit of inclusivity, unity, and shared dreams among all people, Pun said.
The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th Special Olympics Macau will be held from December 8 to 15 across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. The Macau segment will host the two badminton events for both games.
In order to ensure the smooth operation of the torch relay, a rehearsal will be conducted starting at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Pun said, during this time, relevant road sections will be subject to phased and zonal traffic control measures. He urged the public to take note, and to plan their travel routes in advance, as well as follow the instructions of police officers and staff on site.
Pun told reporters after yesterday’s press conference that around 1,500 volunteers will participate, whose work will align with similar duties of the previous National Games’ volunteers, covering reception and competition assistance, among other things, striving to provide professional services.
Pun added that the list of torchbearers will be officially released on Thursday, comprising representatives of athletes of the upcoming Games, Macau social service organisations and others, who will not includes any of the torchbearers of the recent National Games.
Pun Weng Kun, who heads the preparatory office for the upcoming 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and 9th Special Olympics Macau (MSO), poses with a torch during yesterday’s press conference about Saturday’s torch relay for the NGD and MSO, at the Athletes Training and Development Centre in Cotai. – Photo: Ida Cheong
