Hafa Adai! Festivities mark opening of 23rd Asian Intercity Championship

Central Lanes in Tamuning, Guam (Nov. 21-27, 2009)

The 23rd Asian Intercity Bowling Championship will be held from Nov. 21-27, 2009 at Central Lanes in Tamuning, Guam.

The championship got underway on Sunday with the opening ceremonies featuring a performance by the Talent Box Company, an entertainment group age 5 to 17 who wooed the crowed with their rendition of Michael Jackson compilations.

Thereafter the delegates representing fifteen cities marched to the music performed by the Guam Territorial Band.

The entertaining and quick 15-minute event with the invocation presented by Monsignor Brigido Arroyo, started with welcome remarks by the Executive Chairman of the Championship, Joey Miranda III (right), the AIBC address by first Vice President Johnson Cheng (center) on behalf of AIBC while Guam Bowling Congress President Gordon Chu (left). Shellee Javier and John John Ada delivered the Oath of Sportsmanship followed by Col. Joe Mafnas, Ret. GPD and Vice President of GBC taking the officials oath.

Before the championship was officially declared open, a perfect game award was presented to Kim Young Pyo (pictured left) of Daegu who accomplished the feat at Macau Bowling Center in Macau, China during the 22nd edition of the Championship (Nov. 28 - Dec. 6, 2008).

Kim received an 18K gold ring courtesy of the Asian Intercity Bowling Council presented by President Gordon Chu, Cheng, Execom Member Chen Chien Fu and Hon. Secretary-Treasurer Nena Yap on behalf of the council.

Lifetime achievement pendants were also awarded to President Gordon Chu and Execom Chen for twenty-five years of dedicated service to the Asian Intercity Bowling Council as "the pillars in sustaining the organization's purposes" (pictured right).

Executive Chairman Miranda (pictured left) then declared the opening of the championship which features cities from Capitol Hill, Daegu, Dededo, Hagatna, Hong Kong, Kuantan, Pasay, Paranaque, Pohang, Quezon City, Saipan, Shah Alam, Taipei, Victoria and the host city Tamuning.

Real action will commence on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. Chamorro Standard Time with the first squad of the Singles event with the second to follow at 2:30 p.m. Medal Presentation will commence after the completion of the event.