Chinese officials invite Iloilo City exec to Summer Olympics
Officials of Qingdao, China has encouraged Iloilo City to participate in the Summer Olympics 2008 in China by presenting its tourist attractions. Qingdao, a large seaside city in the province of Shandong in northeast China, is Iloilo City's sister city.
City Mayor Jerry Treñas said Chinese officials whom he did not identify "encouraged" the city to take part in the Water Olympics in August. Treñas confirmed his attendance in the upcoming Olympics.
Qingdao would be the site of various water sports for the Summer Olympics as Beijing is far from the sea. The city's major tourists attractions include the Qingdao International Beer City, the primary site of the annual Qingdao International Beer Festival and Qingdao Underwater World.
The invitation of the Chinese officials is deemed helpful in promoting the Dinagyang festival and the Paraw Regatta sailboat competition. Iloilo City is placed in the tourism map because of Dinagyang and Paraw Regatta. The presence of Dinagyang in the summer Olympics would gain mileage from among the spectators all over the world.
Dinagyang was declared by ATOP as the best tourism event for the past two years while Paraw Regatta, the oldest sailboat competition was adjudged last year as the third best tourism event in the country.
The city is also making efforts to sell Iloilo as a city of festivals by holding different festivals in a year. Aside from Dinagyang and Paraw Regatta, the city made efforts in promoting the feast of Our Lady of Candles (Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria) and Chinese New Year.
Apart from being the sister city of Qingdao, the mayor values the contributions made by the Chinese-Filipino community in Iloilo City.