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Applications for this year's Bun Scrambling Competition will open tomorrow (February 25) and close on March 28. Physically fit people aged 18 or above are welcome to take part in the event.
The competition, which is the finale of the 2011 Bun Carnival, will be held on the soccer pitch, Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, in the evening of May 10.
Prospectuses and enrolment forms for the competition will be available from tomorrow at the 18 District Leisure Services Offices of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), various sports centres in the Islands District, or from supporting organisations. They can also be downloaded from the LCSD website at www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Completed enrolment forms should be returned by hand or 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 28. Applicants can also fax the completed forms to 2854 3949.
The maximum number of entrants is 200. If the applications received exceed the quota, places will be allocated by ballot. Priority will be given to applicants who live, work or study on Cheung Chau.
The Hong Kong Mountaineering Union will provide climbing and safety training sessions for successful applicants on April 23, 24 and in the morning of April 30. Applicants must attend one of the training sessions before participating in the selection of finalists in the afternoon of April 30.
A total of 12 shortlisted participants (comprising nine males and three females) will enter the final competition to be held from 11.30pm on May 10 to about 12.30am on May 11. Competitors have to scramble for the buns on the bun tower, which carry different scores, within a time limit. The competitor with the highest total score is the winner. Results of the men's team and the women's team will be ranked separately.
Like last year, local organisations on Cheung Chau and athletes from Hong Kong's neighbouring regions will take part in the Bun Scrambling Invitation Relay, to be held immediately after the individual competition, to help create a lively atmosphere. Three-member teams will compete in the relay and each member will climb the bun tower in sequence to grab designated buns. The winning team will be the one that completes the task in the shortest time.
The 2011 Bun Carnival is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the LCSD, 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 is sponsored by Lukfook Jewellery, Watsons Water and the Islands District Council.
Besides the Bun Scrambling Competition, a wide array of activities, including training on bun tower climbing, selection of finalists for the competition, the climbing carnival, a colouring contest and a drawing competition will be staged during the Bun Carnival between April 23 and May 11.
The Bun Scrambling Colouring Contest is designed for Islands District's 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 youngsters.
The Climbing Carnival, to be held on May 1 at Pak Tai Temple Playground soccer pitch, Cheung Chau, will feature games stalls showcasing the themes of the bun festival, climbing as a sport and the third Hong Kong Games, as well as handicrafts and variety shows for public enjoyment. A Wishing Bun Tower will be erected and the winning works of the colouring contest and drawing competition will be on display.
During the Carnival, the Hong Kong Mountaineering Union will give demonstrations on bun scrambling. 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 also invited to take part in the relay competition.
For enquiries on activities of the 2011 Bun Carnival, please contact the Islands District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD on 2852 3220, or visit the department's website at www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, February 24, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:28
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