Roundup: Lusofonia Games successfully links up people from fourcontinents

"Four Continents, One Language, United by Sports!" The 1st Lusofonia Games which closed here Sunday has successfully linked up people from different Portuguese speaking countries and regions.

The 9-day sports event has helped encourage sports development and promote the diverse cultures that belong to Portuguese speaking communities. Some 700 athletes from 11 countries and regions which include Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Macao of China, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, East Timor, India and Sri Lanka joined the Game.

Bright red Asia, green Brazilian Samba fever, blue Portuguese melody, Macao flavors in purple, and golden yellow shining on African drums...about 17,000 audience witnessed the Games' opening on Oct. 7 in Macao and experienced the unique culture of different places.

Being the the organizing region of the Games, Macao has gained a lot from the event. The Games confirms Macao's role as the platform for the manifold cooperation among China and Portuguese speaking countries and regions and demonstrates the successful implementation of "one country, two system," said 1st Lusofonia Games Organizing Committee Manuel Silverio.

A total of 600 days and 167 million patacas has been spent for the promotion and preparation of the Games which has run smoothly.

"This is the best way of promoting Macao and the money used for the Games' preparation work is absolutely an investment rather than an expenditure," Silverio said that Macao has reached the aim of the Games.

The city also allocated strong manpower in the Games by recruiting some 5,000 volunteers with each of them worked eight hours a day in average. They became Macao's ambassadors to serve at competition events, awarding ceremonies, public relations, accommodation, catering and some other aspects. With their enthusiasm shown at work, they gained praise from most participants of the Games like reporters and athletes.

A string of activities has been staged amid the Games including an evening party and a carnival to provide platforms for people from Portuguese speaking communities and Macao people to communicate in order to strengthen their ties.

Also, before the launch of the Games, a photo exhibition, co-organized by Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau Xinhua News Agency and Macao Media Association, entitled Engagement of History and Future was held to feature the amity between China and Portuguese speaking countries and regions.

As commented by Silverio, the Games is an interacting one.

"We have interaction every moment," he said.

Source: Xinhua