A total of 33 matches will be played over a 4-month period starting on November 13, 2005.
Like in the previous years, the champion will represent Hong Kong in two upcoming events.
First, they will represent Hong Kong’s universities in the China Universities Football Leagues in March 2006, which will take place in one of the cities on the Mainland. They will compete against the champions among universities from other Chinese provinces and cities, for the National Championship.
Second, they will also represent Hong Kong in the Philips Lighting International Soccer Sevens, which will take place in Hong Kong in May 2006. They will then test their skills against renowned international football teams from other parts of the world.
The championship last year went to City University of Hong Kong.
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Philips Universities Football League, three extra dimensions have been introduced to the game. First, we have designed a new logo for the League, using much brighter colors to signify vitality. Moreover, the orange figure in the logo is derived from the Chinese character, which is part of the word for “university”. The launch of the new logo marks a new era in our commitment to promoting football in the tertiary education sector in Hong Kong. Second, Philips has set up the “Philips Sense and Simplicity Who Is The Winner Award”, to encourage public participation in this special annual event. In addition, renowned local football stars Fan Chun Yip, Lee Kin Wo, Leslie George Santos, Cordeiro Cristiano Preigchadt and Chan Ping On have been invited to be the Ambassadors for the League. The Ambassadors will provide advanced football coaching for the participating teams during the League period, to prepare them for the national and international tournaments.
“Philips is proud to be supporting the game of football, not just in Hong Kong, but also in China and even on the global front,” said Mr Andreas Wente, President and CEO of Philips Electronics Asia Pacific, at the opening ceremony for the Philips Hong Kong Universities Football League.
Mr Wente was alluding to Philips’ sponsorship of the World Cup – football’s premier tournament and one of the world’s biggest, if not the biggest event for any single sport. Philips is one of only three companies to have sponsored every World Cup since 1986. The next World Cup will be held in Germany in 2006.
“Philips has been lighting up the game of football in both the metaphysical and literal sense. Not
only do we give financial and spiritual support to the sport, our floodlights also light up 55% of the world’s major stadiums where football is played,” Mr Wente pointed out.
“We are supporting football for simple reasons. Philips is a truly global brand and football is a truly global sport. Both Philips and football have a history that spans more than a century. As Philips embraces the brand promise of Sense and Simplicity, football is also a sport that is simple to play but involves tactics based on sense. Above all, promoting football is one of the ways in which Philips endeavors to make the world better, healthier and happier – which has long been Philips’ core value and sustained vision,” Mr Wente added.
Mrs Dorothy Davies, Chairman of Executive Committee cum Council Member of Hong Kong Post-Secondary Colleges Athletic Association, said, “The unfailing support that Philips is giving to the Hong Kong Universities Football League is admirable. This exemplifies corporate citizenship at its best.”
The 11 teams taking part in the Philips Hong Kong Universities Football League are: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Chu Hai College, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Shue Yan College, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Lingnan University and The University of Hong Kong.
Apart from sponsoring intervarsity football in Hong Kong, Philips also supports educational activities for the youth. Since 1999, Philips has been the chief sponsor for the Joint School Science Exhibition, which this year featured over 40 secondary schools and universities from Hong Kong and overseas.
Since 1948, Philips has been committed to serving Hong Kong in the spirit of “Caring for the Community and Contributing to Hong Kong”. Philip’s commitment to Hong Kong is reflected in its relocation of its Asia Pacific headquarters to Three Pacific Place and its creation and innovation function to the Hong Kong Science Park, both in February this year. Philips current employs some 3,000 staff in Hong Kong.
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