The Di Kang Le Kindergarten in Guangji has held its first student-and-parents sports day since it was rebuilt and reopened in September. SQR was there to enjoy the fun and games.
This is the fifth time the school has held a sports day; Principal Kang said this year’s was the most successful to date, with over 130 families taking full advantage of their much-enlarged playground area.
More than 200 players from 26 countries came together for a day of footballing fun in Chengdu on Saturday, 23rd October, for the 4th Annual A.B.E. Charity Cup coordinated by Sichuan Quake Relief together with the American Chamber of Commerce in Southwest China, the British Chamber of Commerce Southwest China, and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Chengdu.
Seventeen teams competed for the A.B.E. Charity Cup, held this year in Léman International School. The teams were made up of employees of a mix of international and Chinese companies, and associations that all have offices in Chengdu: Alltech Medical Systems, Chengdu Corning Team, The Chengdu Irish Association (CIA), IBM, Jones Lang LaSalle, Kempinski, KPMG, The Leg and Whistle, Maxxelli Chengdu, Maxxelli Chongqing, Measurement Specialties Chengdu, Cafe Panam(e), Previously Athletic F.C., Proton Products, The Shamrock Shlammers, SMC FC and TGCI Group. Players from China and all over the globe played a total of 42 matches over the day to compete for the coveted winner’ cup, and in the process help raise money for grassroots organisations working on community development and economic regeneration projects in areas affected by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. The spirited atmosphere was bourne out in the fact that not a single yellow card was issued the entire day.
This year the family-friendly event not only boasted top-notch footballing action, but fun activities for children to enjoy, including a bouncy castle, face-painting, beat-the-panda-goalkeeper, and more. In addition to the adult’s event, more than 200 children from international schools in Chengdu participated in the Chengdu Youth Soccer League on an adjacent pitch.
Over an increasingly-tense series of matches, the 17 teams were whittled down to a final four — the top two overall teams competing for the tournament Cup, and two for the Plate. The Plate final was between KPMG and Maxxelli Chongqing, the latter winning 1-0. The Cup final between defending champions TGCI and amateur pub team The Shamrock Shlammers could have gone either way, with both teams performing fantasically throughout the day, but after a spectacular lobbing header from the Shlammer’s striker Conde put the team 3-1 up just before the final whistle, it was all over for TGCI.
As well as trophies for the winners and runners up, this year several special awards were up for grabs. The CIA’s spirited efforts earned them the Fair Play team award; TGCI players scooped both the Golden Boot (most goals scored, Wang Yanfeng) and Most Valuable Player (Deng Yikai); and Conde’s header was named the “Champagne moment” of the competition.
Results in full:
A huge thank you to all those who participated, and our fantastic support team of volunteers: William Hall of the Crowne Plaza Chengdu for MC’ing the entire event, with simultaneous interpretation performed flawlessly Alice and Helen of Chuanyi Guoji; Collette McGuire and the volunteers for the kids’ activities (special thanks to the star of the show, Kungfu Panda); Rob and Irene Tonge for helping set-up the event and keeping track of the results as they flew in thick and fast; Katie Harris, Christie Kliewer, Frances Nichols and Zhang Zizheng for pitch-management duties; the staff of the American, British and European Chambers in Chengdu; the staff of the Chengdu Bookworm; and not least, our event sponsors:
The 30,000 RMB raised will go towards supporting grassroots organisations in Mianzhu as part of our Di Kang Le Community Centre project.
In conjunction with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Chengdu, and the Orchard Villas luxury apartment complex, long-time Chengdu resident Graham Bannerman has organised a charity sponsored swimathon to take place this Saturday (3 July 2010), raising money to support SQR.
Good will, good health: Charity through swimming!
The European Chamber takes great pleasure in inviting you to our charity swimathon, co-supported by Sichuan Quake Relief, on the morning of 3rd July, from 9:00 to 12:00!
This is really a meaningful event, because you can not only share a nice Saturday morning full of BBQ, drinks, music and cheers with your family and friends, but also build your body and demonstrate your perseverance by swimming, and at the same time, you help to raise money for earthquake-affected children.
So, if you do not join, it will really be a loss.
Time & date: 3 July 2010, 9:00-12:00
Venue: Orchard Villas pool, No.46, Renmin South Road 锦绣花园（人民南路4段46号）
Scale: 50-70 participants
More than that, the event is strongly supported by Orchard Villas, where Chengdu’s first rank businessmen live and are also invited.
You are welcome to donate as much as you want either under your personal name or company name. Please kindly find here below the sponsorship package for sponsors of over 5000 RMB.
- Verbal recognition as many times as possible
- Name / logo on event article by media: Hello Chengdu; Chengdoo
- Four banners
- A stand to expose company brochures/gifts
Don’t hesitate to join us !!!
Registration and more information:
- European Chamber in Chengdu: chengdu@euccc.com.cn or +86 (0)28 8529 3447
- David Hunt (Sichuan Quake Relief) : david@sichuan-quake-relief.org or +86 137 3066 1242
- Graham Bannerman (Proton Products): graham@protonproducts.com or +86 136 9948 2515
You can support the swimmers’ efforts by donating to their Ammado community page. All proceeds will be passed on to SQR.
This is the third year of the half marathon and 10k fun run*.
All proceeds will go to Sichuan Quake Relief and Chengdu Sports Aid projects.
*If you’re not a runner, feel free to walk the course (take your favourite beverage along if you like).
Just south of Chengdu 3rd Ring Road (buses from The Bookworm to race location).
Meet at the Bookworm at 6am: participants will be driven to the race start. Race starts at 7am.
Register at The Shamrock at the following times:
or email csafunrun@sichuan-quake-relief.org.
Download registration and sponsorship form here
Note: Limited edition T-shirt, available to first 60 registrants only.
Don’t let your efforts go unnoticed: download a sponsorship form. Money raised makes a real difference.
Free beer for all race finishers!
Half marathon finishers will receive a free Chengdu Sports Aid T-shirt!
Email csafunrun@sichuan-quake-relief.org for details.
Sponsorship forms and registration forms available here.
http://sichuan-quake-relief.org/documents/hm_funrun/2010_CSA_hm10Kdocs.zip
This run is a great warm-up for the CIWC’s Charity Ball that evening: run in the morning, have a snooze, then dance the night away.
A few more volunteers needed to:
If you are interested in volunteering, please email csafunrun@sichuan-quake-relief.org.
UPDATE:
Email sent 12th May to runners :
IT IS ON!!
The event is on, whatever the weather (rain, sun or smogshine).
GETTING THERE
Meet at the Bookworm at 6am. Bus from there to race start. Bookworm will be open for (appropriate) use of toilets. Race start location map is attached. If you are going direct to the
race start, let us know NOW, or before Saturday.
CHECK IN!
When you get off the bus, at the race start location, go to the ‘run table’ and check in (so we know you have arrived). We’ll keep an eye on bags while you’re running etc but it’s all at
your own risk.
RACE START
Race start at 700. Be ready to go at 0650!
WATER
There will be water stations at regular intervals. There’ll be isotonic drinks, too for those running the half marathon. Water stations all staffed by volunteers – be nice to them, however
much pain you feel.
RUBBISH!
Put paper cups in the trash bags – do not throw litter/rubbish etc on the road/sidewalk/pavement/grass/car/manhole/any other hole. OK, just don’t litter.
AFTER THE RUN
There will be water at race finish for you to rehydrate. We encourage you to stay to cheer on other runners as they streak/plod/crawl/are dragged across the finish line.
GETTING BACK INTO TOWN
There’ll be bus transport back to the Bookworm. You’re welcome to take a taxi, bike, or,er, run back. Just let someone know if you travel back independently.
BRUNCH
Brunch for participants will be available from 0830 to 1100am at Bookworm.
PRIZES/PRESENTATIONS
Race presentations and prizes at the Bookworm from 10:30: We hope all participants will be there!
WHEN DO I GET MY T-SHIRT?
Event T-shirts will be given out at the Bookworm after the race.
SPONSORSHIP/DONATING MONEY
Please get us much sponsorship as you can form attached, just in case.
- encourage people to donate online www.sichuan-quake-relief.org : link on the right
- if you have cash sponsorship, speak to the race supervisor
CAN MORE PEOPLE REGISTER?
Yes, if you know someone who still hasn’t registered, there are still places.
There’s a superb team organising this event. It’s going to be challenging and fun, and probably quite sweaty.
Two fund-raising sporting events took place in Chengdu last month, both in aid of raising money for SQR.
First on the calendar was the Tianfu Community Cup First Chengdu Charity Tennis Tournament, organised by Dan Garvey, taking place at the Hi-Tech Tennis Centre on October 17th. Entrants were asked to pay a minimum registration fee of 100RMB, but many of the competitors generously donated more than that.
The eventual winners were Liu Yong, taking first place in the singles competition, and doubles champions Ping Xing and Du Biqiang. The grand total raised was 8,380 RMB — a fantastic achievement for the first such event of its kind in Chengdu, and we thank Dan, the sponsors, the players and the team of tireless volunteers for making it such a success.
Just over a week later saw the third annual ABE Charity Cup, a football (in the soccer sense of the word) tournament organised by the American, British and European Chambers of Commerce. Member companies sponsored teams in a series of knock-out seven-a-side games that resulted in a handsome cup for the overall winners, as well as a plate for the winners of a match between the losing semi-finalists. When the final whistles blew, British Chamber chairperson Zhao Yong’s “The Great Company” lofted the cup as this year’s champions, with Chengdu-based manufacturing company CMMC proudly heading back to the office with the plate.
In all 16 teams took part and the organisers did a marvellous job arranging matches and ushering teams to finish the event bang on schedule. Local media from both Sichuan and Chengdu TV channels were present and we were pleased to see the event appear as SCTV4′s “And finally…” feel-good story on the evening news.
The event raised more than 30,000 RMB for SQR, which — together with the money from the tennis tournament — will be put towards the Guangji Kindergarten & Community Centre project.
Events like these not only raise much-needed funds for SQR to continue with its work, but also ensure that the issues facing victims of the earthquake remain firmly in the public eye, and we deeply thank everyone again for their continued support.
The SQR-supporting ABE Charity Cup 2009 has undergone a change of date and venue! It is now being held a day later than advertised, on Sunday October the 25th, at the Chengdu Blades Football Club training ground. It’s on Jinhe Road in Shuangliu — near the Sichuan International Tennis Club. (Address in Chinese: 成都谢菲联足球公园, 双流县金河路60号, 紧邻四川省国际网球中心.)
See the SQR events page for more details.
The Confederation of British Industry’s Chief Representative in Beijing is raising money for a key SQR project, the Guangji Kindergarten & Community Centre.
Many Beijing residents will have travelled along some part of the Jingcheng (Beijing to Chengde) highway enroute perhaps to the Great Wall at either Mutianyu or Jinshanling.
Guy Dru Drury, the CBI's Chief Representative in Beijing, prepares to take on the gruelling 500km 2009 JCCR
However, have you ever considered continuing along its entirety, past Beijing’s principal reservoir at Miyun and on into the mountains that lead, after 200 KM, to the imperial resort of Chengde? Well, if you do then you’ll be visiting the summer hideaway of successive Chinese Emperors who created their very own “summer palace” nestled in the mountains that overlook the Mongolian steppes. It is home to China’s largest palace garden and, incidentally, the world’s shortest river, the Rehe. At a mere 9 miles in length it feeds the bucolic Rehe springs and is largely contained within the vast expanse of the royal palace grounds. In August, and tentatively scheduled to coincide with the one year anniversary of the Olympic opening ceremony, the CBI’s Chief Representative, Guy Dru Drury, will be embarking on his own journey from Beijing to Chengde following the route of the Jingcheng highway. Travelling by a mixture of road and mountain bike he aims to cover the mountainous 500km roundtrip route in 20 hours over the weekend of the 8 August.
It is all in the name of a good cause, namely raising money for the reconstruction of the Guangji Kindergarten destroyed in last year’s devastating earthquake.
Downloadable information
If you would like to support Guy’s efforts then please give generously to SQR directly. By the way, if you do want to visit Chengde you can of course travel there in air‐conditioned comfort either by car or rail if a 20 hour cycle ride is not your preferred means of transport!
Guy Dru Drury (guydd@cbi.org.uk and gdrudrury@gmail.com)
Beijing 01.07.09
The 2nd Chengdu Half Marathon, this time with a parallel/tandem/parallendem event of a 10K run, was completed this morning by a few dozen hardy individuals, in aid of Chengdu Sports Aid. Ben Fredman was on hand to capture photos of the day.
Chengdu Sports Aid’s regular trips continue. Today at 8:45am, a doughty bunch of volunteers met at the Bookworm, boarded the Eton House bus to Qipangou in the north of Chengdu (arriving at what used to be a petroleum industry college) and ran some touch rugby and football activities, plus the tug o’ war and other fun stuff.
Many thanks to Kelly, Walter and Mark for leading the group.
On Sunday 19th April 2009, Chengdu Sports Aid visited Qipangou School, in the north of Chengdu.
Approximately 30 volunteers organised games and sports for the kids there, who have been displaced by the May 12th 2008 quake, and will have to wait to return to their home town/village schools until they have been reconstructed, which may take years, such was the extent of the devastation.
Chengdu Sports Aid volunteers met at 8:45am on Sunday outside the Chengdu Bookworm and took a bus to the school. On the way, JD, team leader for the day, split the volunteers into sports/games groups, with team leaders for football (soccer), touch rugby, badminton, basketball, skipping/jumping and others. The emphasis is on providing organised and structured activities for the kids, as well as having a lot of fun and exercise.
The photos show that these aims were all achieved. The trip was such a success that regular visits will now be made to Qipangou by the group. Chengdu Sports Aid will also visit other schools, with SQR helping to liaise and coordinate.
If you would like to volunteer for Chengdu Sports Aid, check out the CSA Volunteers Google Groups, or email csa@sichuan-quake-relief.org.
All photos from the 18th and 19th April 2009 from Qipangou copyright Ben Fredman. (Ben went with local students on Saturday, and with Chengdu Sports Aid/SQR/Where There Be Dragons on Sunday).
Chengdu Sports Aid Half Marathon and 10km Fun Run – Saturday 9th May 2009
Where? Ren Min Nan Lu, just outside 3rd Ring Road
Really? Yes. Last year 14 people started and completed the course and the event was a very good fundraiser, and a lot of fun.
There are two main ways to donate to SQR:
Read about our current projects to see how your donation will be used.
Support SQR and spread the word by wearing one of our T-shirts, or carrying one of our linen shopping bags.
