A carnival to promote the 2009 Deaflympics is scheduled for this weekend, with free performances and other events spread over Taipei City, Taipei County, Taoyuan County and Hsinchu County.
Local and foreign performance groups will give street shows, including puppetry, lion dances and children’s theater, the Taipei Deaflympics Organizing Committee told a press conference at Taipei City Hall yesterday.
The Deaflympics are scheduled for September.
Italian “extreme theater” company Kitonb, which combines elements of circus and gymnastics with light shows, will give free outdoor performances in the four cities and counties this month.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday thanked the three other local governments for assisting Taipei City Government with the Deaflympics by providing venues for competitions.
Hau said that he expected the Deaflympics — the biggest sports event hosted by the city — to boost Taipei’s international reputation.
Taoyuan County Commissioner Eric Chu (朱立倫), Hsinchu County Commissioner Chen Yung-chin (鄭永金) and Taipei County Deputy Commissioner Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) attended the press conference to show support for the Deaflympics.
Angelo Donello, Kitonb’s executive director, said the group’s performances would include acrobatic dancing and invited the public to enjoy its outdoor performances.
The carnival opens at 5pm in Hsinchu County on Saturday, at 4pm in Taoyuan County on Sunday, at 5pm in Taipei County on Friday next week and at 3:30pm in Taipei City on Saturday and Sunday next week.
Kitonb will perform on Saturday at 7pm in front of the Hsinchu County Hall plaza and from May 15 to May 17 at 7pm at Taipei’s Songshan Tobacco Factory.
For more information, call at (02) 2356-9888.
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