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Applications for this year's Bun Scrambling Competition on Cheung Chau will open tomorrow (March 14).
Since its re-commissioning in 2005, the annual Bun Scrambling Competition of the Bun Carnival has been well received by the public and visitors and become one of the most representative traditional festive events in Hong Kong.
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the "2008 Bun Carnival" will be staged at the Pak Tai Temple Playground soccer pitch, Cheung Chau, from April 26 to May 13.
The carnival is presented in association with the Cheung Chau Wai Chiu County Association Limited, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Islands District Office of the Home Affairs Department and the Hong Kong Mountaineering Union, and sponsored by the Islands District Council and 3D-GOLD Jewellery.
As the finale of the carnival, the Bun Scrambling Competition comprises three stages - training on bun tower climbing, selection of finalists and the final competition.
Healthy and physically fit people aged 18 or above are welcome to join the competition. If more than 150 applications are received, places will be allocated by ballot. Applicants who live, work or study on Cheung Chau will have priority in the ballot.
The 150 selected applicants must attend the training sessions on bun tower climbing and accident prevention provided by the Hong Kong Mountaineering Union on April 26 and 27 and in the morning of May 3 before participating in the selection of finalists in the afternoon of May 3.
A total of 12 shortlisted finalists will enter the final competition which begins at 11.30pm on May 12 and ends about 12.30am on May 13. Competitors have to scramble for the buns on the bun tower within a time limit. The one with the highest total score is the winner.
Similar to last year's event, Cheung Chau local organisations and athletes from neighbouring places are invited to take part in the Bun Scrambling Invitation Relay. A total of eight three-member teams will compete in the relay and each member will climb the bun tower in sequence to grab the designated buns. The team which completes the task in the shortest time is the winner.
Prospectus and enrolment forms for the Bun Scrambling Competition will be available for collection from tomorrow at the 18 District Leisure Services Offices, sports centres in the Islands District, and from co-organiser and assisting organisers. Information can also be obtained from the LCSD website at http://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 April 2. The forms can also be faxed to 2854 3949.
There will be a climbing carnival on May 4. Activities such as games stalls featuring the themes of bun festival, climbing sport and Olympism, handicraft demonstrations and variety shows will be staged. The Hong Kong Mountaineering Union will give climbing demonstrations and festival-goers will have the chance to climb the bun tower.
Participants can join in the Bun Tower Climbing Challenge by making on-site applications. The Bun Tower Climbing Challenge is divided into three groups - the Masters Group (aged 35 or above), Adult Group (aged 18 to 34) and Youth Group (aged below 18 and at least one metre tall). Local tertiary institutions and government departments will be invited to join an invitation relay which is introduced this year.
For enquiries, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office on 2852 3220, or visit the LCSD website at http://www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, March 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:30
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