Macao’s signature annual international sporting event, the “Celebration of the 75^th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 25^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region – 71^st Macau Grand Prix” will be held from November 14^th to 17^th.

The Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee (MGPOC) held a press conference today (October 22^nd) at the conference hall of the Macau Science Center to provide details about the event and its sponsors. Guests attending the press conference included: Luís Gomes, President of the Sports Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and Coordinator of the MGPOC; Chong Coc Veng, Chairman of the Automobile General Association Macao-China and Coordinator of the Sporting Subcommittee of the MGPOC; Rui Cunha, Secretary-General of SJM Resorts, S.A.; Buddy Lam, Director of Corporate Affairs of Galaxy Entertainment Group; Wilfred Wong, Executive Vice Chairman of Sands China Limited; Kenneth Feng, President and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited; Kent Wong, Chief Advisor of Melco Resorts & Entertainment; Craig Fullalove, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Wynn Macau, Limited; Lei Si Leng, Deputy Coordinator of the MGPOC; MGPOC and Subcommittees members; other sponsor representatives; and Sports Committee members.

A video of a speech by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem was shown at the press conference in which he congratulated Macao on the staging of the 71^st Macau Grand Prix and the of the FIA FR World Cup, FIA GT World Cup and FIA TCR World Tour Event of Macau.

The MGPOC introduced the competitors and announced the sponsors for the “Celebration of the 75^th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region – 71^st Macau Grand Prix”.

Race Programme

This year's Grand Prix includes seven exciting events. They are the: Macau Grand Prix – FIA FR World Cup; Macau GT Cup – FIA GT World Cup; Macau Guia Race – Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Event of Macau; Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – 56^th Edition; Greater Bay Area GT Cup (GT4); Macau Roadsport Challenge; and the Macau Roadsport – Macao SAR Establishment Cup.

Sponsorship

The Macau Grand Prix provides a platform for local companies to increase their investment in non-gaming elements, and to leverage their resources to enhance ancillary elements and introduce additional publicity channels through which to promote the event. The 71^st Macau Grand Prix is supported by six integrated resort and leisure companies in Macao, including four elite sponsors: SJM Resorts, S.A.; Galaxy Entertainment Group; Sands China Limited; and MGM China Holdings Limited. Each has invested sponsorships in the amount of MOP20,000,000. For the two premium sponsors, Melco Resorts and Entertainment; and Wynn Macau, Limited; the sponsorship amount is MOP10,000,000 each.

MGPOC aims to continue to use this major event as a platform on which to work with the private sector to develop sports tourism projects that attract international visitors, and effectively promote the coordinated development of both a comprehensive tourism and leisure industry and the sports sector.

A cheque presentation ceremony for the elite sponsors and the premium sponsors was conducted during the press conference.

It was also announced that the safety car for the event will be sponsored by BMW Concessionaires (Macau) Ltd.; Macau Industrial Ltd. is the official beverage sponsor and Air Macau Co., Ltd. is the official airline sponsor of this year’s Grand Prix.

Multiple Ticketing Outlets

Tickets for this year's Grand Prix will go on sale at 10am tomorrow (October 23^rd). Ticket prices range from MOP400 to MOP1,200, depending on viewing location. Individual ticket purchases are limited to a maximum of 20 per person, and all spectators aged two and above must hold a valid ticket.

To facilitate easy ticket purchasing, MGPOC has set up a total of 15 sales points in Macao, Hong Kong and the Mainland, as well as online, telephone, email and mobile applications purchase channels. Residents and visitors wishing to attend can make reservations through the Macao ticketing network www.macauticket.com, email and phone, or purchase tickets at Kong Seng Macao and Hong Kong stores and Mainland sales points. Tickets can also be obtained through Ctrip, Trip.com mobile apps, Damai mobile apps and WeChat mini-programs, EGL Tours website www.egltours.com, the domestic version of Tongyue.com WeChat mini-programs and CITS WeChat mini-programs.

During the event, as well as manned counter services, each on-site ticketing centre will also be equipped with self-service ticket machines. Spectators may purchase tickets using credit cards and other electronic payment methods.

Ancillary Events

MGPOC will organize a number of activities surrounding the event in the coming weeks to allow residents and visitors to immerse themselves the lively atmosphere of the Grand Prix. The Macau Grand Prix Family Carnival will be held at Tap Seac Square from November 2^nd to 3^rd. The venue will feature a simulated Guia Circuit and a mini racing track, allowing children to experience the various types of posts and functions involved in the organization of the Grand Prix, and gain a greater knowledge of and interest in motorsport activities.

The Macau Grand Prix Auto Show will be held at Tap Seac Square from November 9^th to 10^th, allowing residents and visitors to see the racing vehicles up close. An opening ceremony will also be held at the same venue on November 9^th. As well as the displayed racing vehicles, the show will include stalls selling Grand Prix-themed cultural and creative products.

To further promote racing culture, the 71^st Macau Grand Prix Photography Contest will be held with the aim of encouraging Macao residents to participate in Grand Prix activities in a variety of ways.

Opportunities to Watch

In addition to welcoming spectators onsite, the Grand Prix will continue to be broadcast live or rebroadcast by a variety of TV stations and broadcast organizations covering Macao, the Mainland and numerous countries and regions around the world. In addition, communities across Macao can watch the live action via giant screens set up across the city.

Promoting Local Industry

Last year, MGPOC used the occasion of the 70^th Macau Grand Prix to launch a series of cooperation projects with different local and foreign brands and small and medium-sized enterprises, successfully creating a platform for collaboration with the industry. The successful leveraging of the linkage effect of the Grand Prix via this platform continues this year, with organizers working hand in hand with Macao enterprises and the tourism industry to promote the development of the tourism and sports industries, maximizing the role of the Grand Prix in promoting Macao and sports tourism.

The event enables visitors to experience the dynamism of Macao as a city of major sports events and, at the same time, uses the linkage effect of the Grand Prix to bring sports, tourism, economic and other benefits to the entire Macao SAR.

To further utilize the linkage effect of sports tourism, the MGPOC will continue its ticket partnership program to cooperate with tourism bodies, travel agencies, airlines in Macao and other regions, and online travel platforms to jointly launch package discounts for air tickets, ferry tickets or hotels for this year’s Grand Prix. Organizations and merchants interested in participating in the ticket partnership program may contact the MGPOC. Successful partners will be granted varying discounts based on the number of tickets purchased.

More information about the event can be found by visiting the official website of the Macau Grand Prix at www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo, downloading the relevant mobile application or following the event’s Facebook page, WeChat and Weibo accounts, "Macao Major Sporting Events" Facebook page, "澳門體育" (Macao Sports) WeChat public account and "澳門特區體育局" (Macao SAR Sports Bureau) WeChat subscription account.