SJM Sponsors the World’s Three Leading Indoor Skydiving Championships at Macau
SJM Sponsors the World’s Three Leading Indoor Skydiving Championships at Macau
(Macau, 17 April 2024) SJM Resorts, S.A. (“SJM”) is pleased to serve as a platinum sponsor of the 5th FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving. Today, the opening ceremony was hosted at the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau (“Grand Lisboa Palace”). This global event is truly unprecedented, not only is it the largest ever, it also marks Macau and the Asia-Pacific region playing host for the first time. In addition to World Cup of Indoor Skydiving, it also features the 3rd FAI European Indoor Skydiving Championships and the 1st FAI Asian Indoor Skydiving Championships simultaneously. The championships are divided into three stages. The opening ceremony and athlete speed tests took place today on 17 April. The preliminary and semi-final rounds will take place from 18 to 19 April, and the finals and award ceremony is scheduled for 20 April.
The competitions have drawn over 200 elite flyers and 84 coaches from 28 countries and regions, with a total of 95 teams vying. Notably, ninety percent of the international athletes and participating teams are visiting Macau for the first time. Among the competitors are renowned “star athletes,” including Toms Ivans from Latvia, who is the head coach of GoAirborne Macau. Toms Ivans previously clinched the FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving 2018 in Berlin and holds the Guinness World Record for the most backward somersaults in a wind tunnel. Moreover, three young Macau athletes are making their debut, showcasing their skills alongside indoor skydiving talents from across the globe.
To congratulate the successful hosting of this unprecedented event, Guests of Honour graced today’s opening ceremony, including: Mr. Edmund Ho, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (“MGTO”); Mr. Pun Weng Kun, President of Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (“DESPORTO”); Mr. Vincent U, President of Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute of the Macao SAR Government (“IPIM”); Ms. Cheong Man Fai, Acting Deputy Director of Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Mr. Zhang Wai, Division Head of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Mr. Andy Chau, Executive Director of FAI; Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM; Ms. Angela Leong, Permanent Honorary President of Macau Indoor Skydiving General Association; Ms. Connie Kong, Director of Lisboeta Macau; Mr. Lawrence Koh, Director of GoAirborne; Mr. Ian Soi Kun, Honorary President of Macau Indoor Skydiving General Association; and Mr. Ben Wu, Chairman of Macau Indoor Skydiving General Association.
Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM, remarked at the opening ceremony, “Sporting events are a key focus of SJM’s commitment. In addition to a series of title- sponsorships of international sporting events we have hosted in the past, we are also supporting niche sports developments as in the case of this unprecedented event, bringing three of the world’s top-most indoor skydiving championships to ourdoorsteps. These branded global sports spectacles serve as vital catalysts in enriching Macau’s signature ‘event economy,’ expanding our exposure in international markets, and promoting longer visitations from overseas tourists. These delegations comprising
280 athletes and coaches, along with their sports fans, will become effective ambassadors of Macau’s hospitality to the world.”
SJM is committed to introduce more internationally “branded” events into Macau and leverage “Sports +Tourism” synergistic effects to promote economic diversification. In 2023, SJM title-sponsored marquee events such as the Macau Grand Prix, Macao (Golf) Open and the Chinese Tennis Association Tour Professional Finals, and held a series of extension activities, fostering a culture of “Sports for All” and nurturing budding athletes. As indoor skydiving grows in popularity in China, SJM’s sponsorship of the first-ever international indoor skydiving competition in Macau shall serve as a trailblazer to attract more milestone events to Macau, enriching its content as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.
As a side event to the opening ceremony, a number of indoor skydivers and coaches were invited to the “Youth Talk”, including Ms. Kyra Poh, the reigning World Cup of Indoor Skydiving and World Indoor Skydiving Championships gold medalists; Ms. Venus Tong, a talented 13-year-old local Macau indoor skydiving youth athlete; Mr. Winfred Chan, a skilled indoor skydiving coach-athlete; Mr. Toms Ivans, an experienced indoor skydiver who has previously served as a personal flight coach for Hollywood A-listers Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johansson in blockbuster productions; as well as Ms. Wang Jie from the China indoor skydiving team. They shared their personal stories with over 30 students from Macau Anglican College, Millennium Secondary School and Macao Polytechnic University, allowing youngsters to learn about indoor skydiving and grasp the joys and accomplishments the sport offers. Through the speakers’ personal experiences, SJM hopes to inspire the participants to learn from athletes’ positive energy and the spirit of perseverance, fostering a positive outlook on life.
With the support from the MGTO, DESPORTO, and IPIM, the event is authorised by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI) and organised by GoAirborne, GoAirborne Macau, and the Macau Indoor Skydiving General Association.
28 Participating Countries and Regions (in alphabetical order) :
1. Australia
2. Brazil
3. Canada
4. China
5. Hong Kong, China
6. Cyprus
7. Czech Republic
8. Finland
9. France
10. Germany
11. Hungary
12. Indonesia
13. Israel
14. Italy
15. Latvia
16. Malaysia
17. Netherlands
18. Poland
19. Qatar
20. Singapore
21. South Korea
22. Spain
23. Sweden
24. Switzerland
25. Thailand
26. USA
27. UK
28. FAI
Photo Caption:
1. Distinguished guests attended the opening ceremony of the 5th FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving, platinum-sponsored by SJM.
2. The opening ceremony of the 5th FAI World Cup of Indoor Skydiving was hosted at Grand Lisboa Palace today.
3. The elite athlete demonstrated amazing flying skills, allowing the students to learn more about indoor skydiving.
4. Students gathered for a group photo at the GoAirborne Macau indoor skydiving (Macau) after attending a Youth Talk.
5. Indoor skydiving elite athletes shared their training stories to encourage the younger generations to discover their strengths.
-Ada Chio de la Cruz /Dino
