Prize Giving Ceremony of Photo Contest and "My Favorite Local Performing Team" for the "Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse" was held at Tourism Activities Centre today (18 March). "Heart in Macau" Portuguese Folk Dance Association was awarded "My Favorite Local Performing Team".

Director of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; Acting President of Macau Sport Development Board, José Maria da Fonseca Tavares; Deputy Directors of MGTO Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong; Head of Department of Cultural Activities and Recreation of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM), Choi Chi Hong; as well as Head of Cultural Events Department of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Kent Ieong Chi Kin were present at the ceremony among other guests.

MGTO held the grand outdoor celebration event "Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse" in early February. To encourage active participation among citizens, MGTO organized a variety of supporting activities with local photography associations and telecommunication company to boost the public's sense of involvement in the parade.

MGTO organized a SMS game named "My Favorite Local Performing Team" for citizens to vote for their most-loved local performing team in the parade. "Heart in Macau" Portuguese Folk Dance Association took the highest votes to become the most popular team. During the Prize Giving Ceremony, MGTO drew out 22 lucky winners among the voters. The first two lucky winners were presented special prizes while the rest 20 winners were each given a souvenir.

MGTO also sponsored a photo contest co-organized by the Photographic Society of Macau and The Photography Salon Society of Macau. The contest collected a total of 381 photo works for the parade on 2 and 8 February (the third and ninth day of Chinese New Year). Three Special Prizes, Champion, 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up as well as the five Merits were awarded to winners in the contest. All awards came with a trophy while the winners of Champion, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up and Merit were presented cash prizes as well.

Both activities have given out attractive prizes. Winning the award "My Favorite Local Performing Team", "Heart in Macau" Portuguese Folk Dance Association is invited to take part in the Popular Street Marching Parades for exchange and performance in Lisbon, Portugal in June together with MGTO, whereas the first two lucky-draw winners and the three Special-Prize winners in the Photo Contest are invited to join the aforementioned parade in Portugal with MGTO for a firsthand experience of this annual local magnificent event as well.

MGTO has held the grand outdoor celebration event for two years in a row, making great effort to present the event as one of the most spectacular highlights in town so that citizens and visitors can enjoy a rich festive ambience during Lunar New Year.