The World Masters Games are to conclude today with the final rounds in soccer and tennis, while New Taipei City is to host the closing ceremony tonight with headliners Taiwanese boy band Energy, drag queen Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅) and Taiwanese hip hop group Caotun Boy (草屯囝仔).
While most events were completed yesterday, the last day still has tennis finals in various categories and age groups at the two main tennis venues in Taipei and New Taipei City today.
In soccer, 11-a-side men’s teams are today to vie for the trophy in the Competitive Recreational category for 45+, 50+ and 55+ age groups at Taipei’s Yingfeng Riverside Park Football Field (迎風河濱公園足球場), while matches in the Open category for the 65+ age group are being held at Jhubei City’s (竹北) Hsinchu County Second Stadium (新竹縣第二運動場).
Photo courtesy of the New Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau
As cohosts, Taipei launched the Games with the opening ceremony at the Taipei Dome on May 17, while New Taipei City officials are the main organizers for this evening’s closing ceremony, featuring music, entertainment, a laser light show and fireworks to spotlight the “We are the World” theme.
According to the New Taipei City Cultural Affairs Bureau, the closing ceremony is to be held at the New Taipei City Art Museum in Yingge District (鶯歌), which is a brand new facility that opened only last month.
Work began on the facility in December 2018, and its exterior park spaces opened to the public on April 2023.
Games participants and members of the public wishing to attend the closing ceremony are advised that traffic control and restrictions are in place all day, and the best way is to take a Taiwan Railway Corp train to Yingge Station, then to follow the corridor and signs for a six-minute walk to the venue, which opens its doors at 5pm, organizers said in a news release.
“The site is divided into four areas: Zone A has the performance stage for participating athletes, including the para competitors; Zone B is to the east for all athletes — passes with name tags would be checked on entry; Zone C is to the west side of the main stage and is for the general audience, while Zone D is at the site’s northeast corner and serves as a recreational area for parents and families with kids,” the release said.
According to officials and a map for the event, Zone A hosts the main stage for the music and entertainment performances, while other areas are further away, with giant screens set up for zones B, C and D audiences.
A street market is also being held nearby, which opens at 3pm.
The program starts with an address by the president of the International Masters Games Association, Taipei and New Taipei City mayors, and representatives from the next Games’ host city in Japan, followed by performances featuring Energy, Nymphia Wind, Caotun Boy, singer-songwriter Kasiwa (葛西瓦), DJ RayRay and other acts, along with colorful laser light shows, the release said.
The show would conclude with a four-and-a-half minute fireworks show over the riverside park along the Dahan River (大漢溪), the release said.
Security checks are in place for Zone A, and participating athletes are restricted to bringing in a bag under 50x50x50cm in size, while there are storage spaces available, officials said.
Officials advise bringing a simple bag with a water bottle, and refills are available at the site’s water dispensers.
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