eXtreme Macau

A true test of guts for those who dare to conquer Macau is conquering Macau Tower, a stunning architectural masterpiece soaring at 338 meters. Designed by the so-called “adventure maestro” AJ Hackett, he made Macau Tower a great destination for the adventurous with nine thrilling challenges including the Flying Fox, Bouldering Wall, Bungy Trampoline and Skywalk X, the world’s highest skywalk.

I love adventures so doing the Skywalk X was inevitable. But to give us a preview, we first walked on the 42-mm thick glass floor of the Observation Lounge, a heart-stopping vertical view, 223 meters above the ground.

And after seeing the panoramic view of Macau overlooking the Pearl River Delta, our group went up to the 61st floor and decided to kill ourselves... with excitement. After suiting up, we walked around the main outer rim of the tower sans handrails, at 233 meters above the ground. Seeing Macau at a 360 degree view was fun and amazing, until our guide asked me to sit on the edge of the walkway for a photo... I freaked out! But I did it anyway, I need to have a really good photo for this story.

The experience was scary, yet exhilarating. An adrenaline-pumping feat not really for the faint-hearted.

It was the highlight of our 4-day familiarization tour courtesy of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) with MGTO Philippine representative Jet Cabuslay accompanying the group composed of sports and travel writers.

Macau Tower, conveniently located 15 minutes away from Macau International Airport, has been the center of major business and entertainment events since it opened in Dec. 2001. A name equivalent to first-class leisure activities, it also offers dazzling leisure choices from dining, urban adventure, sight-seeing to themed entertainment and shopping.

The Philippines is one of the few countries bent in promoting sports tourism to travelers — giving tourism a different dimension by adding sports and adventure to the country’s already growing list of attractions.

Manuel Silverio, vice president of the Macau Olympic Committee said that it was the first time that he heard such a term and he believes that Macau is actually geared towards that direction.

Over the last decade or so, Macau has been working closely with the local associations and various Asian and international federations to organize more and varied sport events, including the Asian Karting Open Championship, FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, Macau Golf Open, Asian Triathlon Championship, and many more. These are important especially in preparation for its hosting of the 4th East Asian Games slated in October next year... Demonstrating the cosmopolitan city’s commitment and potential to becoming the "Sports Destination of Asia."

Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) is located on the southeast coast of China, to the west of the Pearl River Delta, bordering on Guangdong Province and lies 60 kms. from Hong Kong. It covers a total area of 23.8 sq. kms. consisting of the narrow peninsula of Macau and two outer islands, Taipa and Coloane.

In preparation for the 4th East Asian Games, a number of modern sports facilities have been built, with some still under construction, to house the competitions.

The biggest and perhaps the most impressive of all the new facilities is the Macau East Asian Games Dome. Also known as "The Macau Egg," the Dome is considered to be the most sophisticated venue to be built here, estimated to cost $640 million.

The 139,960-square foot dome has two stadiums, capable of holding more than 9,000 people, and a center for conventions of up to 2,000 delegates. It has been designed with two functional pavilions and an exhibition center. Pavilion 1 is for different indoor sports while Pavilion 2, with its central stage and U-shaped spectator seats offer a perfect venue for exhibition sports. The 2-level exhibition center is suitable for large banquets, exhibitions and meetings.

The first major sports infrastructure here is the Macau Olympic Aquatic Centre, inaugurated in March 2003. It has a total area of 3,220 sq. meters which houses an Olympic-sized swimming pool, seating for 1,500 and state-of-the-art media facilities. The 4-storey Media and Information Centre is also an indoor sports venue with advanced information systems to facilitate media coverage for the East Asian Games.

With its idyllic surrounding and a water depth of 5 meters, the Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre is ideal for water sports, including canoeing and dragon boating. The 500-meter, 6-lane competition course can also accommodate 3,880 spectators.

Other venues include the Macau Stadium and Pavilion, Macau International Shooting Range, the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion, Macau Hockey Center, Tennis Academy and the Bowling Center.

The Macau 2005-4th East Asian Games, participated in by China, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, Guam and Macau, is expected to provide a succession of invaluable effect on Macau, from community pride and the development of the sports community to the growth of its tourism industry. A series of arts and cultural festivals will be held simultaneously with the Games to promote Macau’s 400-year heritage.

Another sporting event that Macau is famous for is the Macau Grand Prix. Originally conceived in 1954 as an amateur event for local motoring enthusiasts, the Macau Grand Prix is a race meeting to which the world’s leading riders and drivers vie for entries.

This month, Macau will once again wake up with a jolt as more than 300 racing drivers and riders, as well as thousands of motor sports fans, descend on the territory for the world’s only street circuit race meeting which features both car and motorcycle races at its renowned Guia Circuit.

One of the highlights is the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix, which sees a field of 30 national championship drivers competing to take the chequered flag.

For these young superstars of tomorrow, a win at Macau can guarantee the driver a place in a top Formula 3000 team or, in the case of exceptional talent, an immediate invitation to move in to the pinnacle of motor racing, Formula 1. Proof of which is F1 World Champion Michael Shumacher who quickly established himself as the hottest property in F1 after his win here in 1990.

The Macau Grand Prix has evolved rapidly and is now an event of international renown that attracts the best Formula 3 drivers in the world to compete for the championships at the Guia Circuit, that has rightfully become famous in the world of motorsports for the skill and expertise it requires of drivers.

The Museum of Macau Grand Prix, opened in Nov. 1993, retells the Grand Prix’s long history through a display of race cars and motorcycles. This valuable collection of machines have competed and won the Guia Circuit. It was created by MGTO to celebrate the City’s greatest sporting and social event