***************************************************
Applications for this year's Bun Scrambling Competition in Cheung Chau will open from tomorrow (March 16).
As the finale of the Bun Carnival, the annual festive Bun Scrambling Competition has been well received by local people and visitors.
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the 2010 Bun Carnival will be held at the Pak Tai Temple Playground soccer pitch, Cheung Chau, between May 8 and 22. 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 Hong Kong Mountaineering Union, and sponsored by Lukfook Jewellery, Watsons Water and the Islands District Council.
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 150. 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 Hong Kong Mountaineering Union will provide selected applicants with training sessions on bun tower climbing and prevention of falling on May 8, 9 and on the morning of May 15. All selected applicants must attend one of the training sessions before participating in the selection of finalists on the afternoon of May 15.
A total of 12 shortlisted finalists (comprising nine male and three female participants) will enter the final competition to be held from 11.30pm on May 21 to about 12.30am on May 22. 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. Results of the men's team and the women's team will be ranked separately.
Similar to 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. The three-member teams will compete in the relay and each member will climb the bun tower in sequence to grab designated buns. The team which 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, sports centres in the Islands District, and from supporting organisers. They can also be obtained from the LCSD website 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 16. Applicants can also fax the forms to 2854 3949.
At the Climbing Carnival to be held on May 16, there will be games stalls featuring the themes of the bun festival, sports climbing, greening and environmental protection, handicrafts and variety shows for public enjoyment. A Wishing Bun Tower will be set up and winning works of the Bun Scrambling Colouring Contest and Drawing Competition will be on display. The Hong Kong Mountaineering Union will give climbing demonstrations while festival-goers will have the chance to try climbing the bun tower after making on-site applications to join the Climbing Play-in. The play-in 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). In addition, local tertiary institutions, government departments and commercial and industrial organisations are invited to take part in the relay competition.
For enquiries, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office on 2852 3220, or visit the LCSD website on www.lcsd.gov.hk .
Ends/Monday, March 15, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:01
NNNN
