PRESS RELEASE
Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes reaches out to support Hong Kong’s non-Chinese ethnic communities
600 6s tickets distributed to South Asian community support organizations and schools
 [Hong Kong, October 22, 2011]: Following the focus on enhancing support services for Hong Kong’s non-Chinese ethnic communities in Chief Executive Donald Tsang Kam Yuen’s 2011 Policy Address, the Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2011 is reaching out to Hong Kong’s non-ethnic Chinese minority community through sport.
The Hong Kong Cricket Association, organizer of the Hong Kong Sixes, today announced that it will distribute 600 Sixes tickets for the opening day of the tournament (Friday, October 28) to organizations that support non-ethnic Chinese minority groups in Hong Kong.
The tickets will be distributed through a variety of social welfare and neighborhood institutions active in the South Asian community with a particular focus on those that work with at-risk youth.
To launch the campaign, the Karp Group Hong Kong Sixes held a special youth cricket clinic today for 40 South Asian youth from the Caritas Hong Kong Jockey Club Integrated Service For Young People in Wong Tai Sin and the Caritas Community Center in Aberdeen, at Kowloon Cricket Club, the venue for next week’s Sixes (October 28-30).
Captain Shahzada Saleem, President of the Hong Kong Cricket Association commented on the initiative saying “The challenges facing ethnic communities in Hong Kong have been well documented in news media of late and have been addressed most recently by the Chief Executive, who, in his recent policy address, called for increased support services for ethnic minorities to facilitate their integration into the community, and to foster mutual understanding and respect within the community. The Hong Kong Cricket Association are delighted to play a part in supporting these worthy aims.”
“With the Sixes receiving the strong support of the M Mark Committee since 2007 and from the Mega Events Fund for the first time ever in 2011, we felt a special responsibility to act on this issue,” added Captain Saleem.
“The Cricket Sixes offers a unique opportunity to engage ethnic youth in Hong Kong in a way that is relevant for them and allows them an opportunity to share their own unique sporting culture with the wider community through their passion for Cricket.”
“We believe that the initiative will be well received amongst the community and we are pleased that the Karp Group Hong Kong Sixes can be more than just a sporting event but also an important way to integrate all ethnic groups for a more harmonious Hong Kong.”
The two Caritas associations participating in today’s session are among several organisations to receive tickets for the Friday of the Karp Group Hong Kong Sixes.
Over 350 tickets have already been distributed to a variety of organizations and community support centres such as the Kowloon Mosque, with another 150 being provided after strong demand.
In addition, 100 tickets have been provided to the Home Affairs Bureau for distribution through its own channels to various ethnic Chinese community groups in Hong Kong.
Today’s clinic was run by members of the Hong Kong Cricket Association’s Men’s and Women’s Cricket Sixes team. Both teams will take part in the upcoming Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes. The women’s team will play an exhibition match against the China women’s team on Sunday morning (October 30) while the Hong Kong men’s team is in Pool C alongside South Africa, Pakistan and India.
The youngsters participating in the clinic enjoyed the opportunity to engage in their passion for cricket and to rub shoulders with some of Hong Kong’s premier players.
The tickets provided to local youth and community organizations are valid for Friday, October 28, the first day of the expanded three-day Karp Group Hong Kong Sixes 2011.
The Friday schedule includes seven opening pool matches including games involving Hong Kong, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India, as well as the first ever international Twenty20 match played on Hong Kong soil between the Woodworm All Stars and an opposition side comprised of representatives of the other teams participating in the tournament (15.00).
About the Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2011
Organized by the Hong Kong Cricket Association since 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is the only international cricket event held in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Sixes is fully sanctioned by the world's governing body for cricket, the International Cricket Council, and title sponsored by Karp Group. An recognised "M" Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee since 2007, the Hong Kong Sixes is being supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Commission's Mega Events Fund for the first time in 2011. The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong.
With the support of the Hong Kong Tourism Commission’s Mega Events Fund for the first time in 2011, this year’s Karp Group Cricket Sixes 2011 is set to be the biggest and best clash in the 19-year history of the Tournament. The Hong Kong Sixes has also been recognised an official “M" Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee since 2007.
Tickets can be purchased from the Hong Kong Ticketing website at www.hkticketing.com, the Hong Kong Cricket Association office in Olympic House, Kowloon Cricket Club, Hong Kong Cricket Club and at Jashan and DotCod restaurants in Central.
The tournament has been broadcast live since 2008 and in 2010 reached over 80 million households on the Indian subcontinent, across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South Africa, as well as being packaged for distribution in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and China.
About the Mega Events Fund
The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong. |
