The Arafura Games is an international sports event targeting at the young athletes with potential in the Asia Pacific region. Since its inception in 1991, the Arafura Games has been held every 2 years in Darwin, the provincial city of Northern Territory, Australia. It attracts sports delegations from the Asia and Pacific region as well as other regions to participate in the Games. Since 2005, sports for athletes with a disability were incorporated into Arafura, giving them an opportunity to participate in this grand event.
The 2011 Arafura Games was held from 7th to 14th May in Darwin, Australia. More than 2300 athletes from 25 countries and regions took part and competed in 19 sports.
This is the 9th time Macao participated in the Arafura Games, with a sports delegation consisted of more than 200 members. The delegation competed in 16 sports including: athletics, basketball, tenpin bowling, boxing, football (soccer), golf, hockey, shooting-pistol, Muay Thai, sepak takraw, squash, table tennis, shooting-clay target, triathlon, volleyball and Paralympics (table tennis).
The Arafura Games is not only a platform for young athletes to practice and participate in competitions, but also an opportunity to gain experience in competitions and to win awards for our local athletes. During this year’s Games, the Macao Sports Delegation has gained great achievements as well as valuable friendship, which has lived up to all our expectations. Winning 30 gold medals, 29 silver medals and 34 bronze medals, the sports delegation made a new record for Macao, and ranked no. 1 among all the participating teams from outside of Australia.
The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Mr. Cheong U, together with members of the sports study delegation have attended the opening ceremony of the Games, and held meetings to exchange opinions with Quentin Bryce, the Governor-General of Australia, Paul Henderson, the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory of Australia, Karl Hampton, the Minister for Sport and Recreation of the Northern Territory of Australia and Steve Rossingh, the chairman of the Arafura Games Organizing Committee, etc. Moreover, they also visited some of the facilities of the Games, and were present at the venues to support and encourage the Macao athletes to strive for good performance.
