Under construction, Asia's new sports capital
Not content with outstripping Las Vegas in gambling revenue, tiny Macau has set its sights on another ambitious target: becoming Asia's new sports capital.
Unconvinced? Then check out the schedule -- Manchester United, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Roger Federer all have flights booked, along with Orlando Magic and Yao Ming's Chinese national team.
The world-class line-up tops a growing roster of events, including major multi-sport competitions for the past three years, a visit by Barcelona FC, and annual motorsport grands prix and Asian Tour golf, among others.
"Yes, I support this thinking," top sports official Manuel Silverio told AFP when asked if Macau had plans to become Asia's leading sports destination.
"We have to know how to sell it. Macau needs this kind of events to promote itself internationally."
Authorities spent years as well as millions of dollars modernising Macau's sports facilities, culminating in the 2005 East Asian Games when a dozen new and refurbished venues came on stream.
Now it's the liberalised casino industry that's taking over, bringing Vegas-style entertainment to the Cotai Strip -- a swathe of reclaimed land hurriedly being transformed into a world-beating resort complex.
At the site, cranes pierce the horizon as thousands of workmen swarm across an emerging mini-city of hotels, casinos and convention facilities with its own airport, ferry terminal and, crucially, a border crossing from mainland China.
Just a Federer forehand from the red-roofed checkpoint is the Venetian Macau, the complex's 3,000-suite flagship resort which will welcome English Premier League champions Manchester United as its first guests next month.
A modern marvel of gaudy opulence, among the faux Venice Rialto bridge and bell tower -- to be surrounded by canals carrying singing gondoliers -- nestles a compact 15,000-seat arena set to host the last word in sporting spectacle.
Within weeks, construction din will give way to the roar of the crowd as first Manchester United, then the NBA stars and finally Federer and Pete Sampras make the kind of noise that's being heard across Asia.
"In five hours we sold out all the tickets and people from Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia, and of course Macau, were queuing up," Silverio said.
William P. Weidner, president and CEO of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp, said it was just the start of a long-term programme to make Macau one of Asia's top tourist draws.
"We're also in the midst of finalising deals that will bring other exciting sporting events, popular touring shows, major concerts and a variety of special events to the region," he said.
"This is a major step in helping reposition Macau as a must-see destination."
Creating this kind of buzz is an astonishing turnaround for the former Portuguese enclave, until recently known for its sleepy ambiance and imported sherry and which did not compete internationally until 1975.
"All these changes are possible because we have money," Silverio admitted.
"All this money is coming from taxation, especially from the gambling industry. Now we're on exactly the right track for sports and culture to walk hand-in-hand together with the gambling industry."
Silverio, vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia, will open the Asian Indoor Games opens in October, Macau's third big event in consecutive years including the East Asian Games and last year's Lusofonia Games.
While all three made a loss, they paid dividends in training Macau's half-million population to host big events -- a major benefit as the Chinese territory eyes more stars, more visitors and the lucrative conference market.
"Compare it with Monaco, which has gambling, car-racing and many international organisations have their headquarters there," said Silverio.
"In Macau maybe we can follow these steps. We have gambling, car-racing and international sports events here but also we must try to create the conditions to make an incentive for more."
Local commentators agree it's a business model that makes sense, with marquee sports names attracting strong interest among the billions of Asians who live within a few hours' flight, including across the border in China.
"It would be a good niche given that China promotes sports in a very nationalistic way and it's one of the things that's catching on like wildfire there," said Christopher Cottrell, editor-in-chief of Macau Business magazine.
"No one really seems to be saying 'we're the sports capital of Asia.' If Macau is saying that, it's quite refreshing." |
