The 2023 LEGO® Education FLL China Open Championship (Intercontinental Tournament) Kicks off Today with the Theme of "Super Powered"

to Enhance Students' Ability of Integrated Application of Interdisciplinary Knowledge and Creative Collaboration

For the first time, Macao Science Center and the LEGO® Education FLL China Organization Committee jointly organized the 2023 LEGO® Education FLL China Open Championship (Intercontinental Tournament), which was held from August 3 to 5 at Gallery C of Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao. Under the theme of "Super Powered", the competition aims to encourage children and adolescents to apply knowledge and technology flexibly, learn the methods of scientific research through hands-on practice, enhance their interest in careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), and cultivate their creative collaboration and logical thinking skills to cope with various challenges in their lives. It attracted 450 elite teams comprising more than 2,000 players aged between 4 and 16 from the Chinese mainland, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. There were approximately 5,000 players and entourages in total. During their stay in Macao, they visited educational, cultural and tourism venues, including the Macao Science Center, to experience the diversified charms of Macao, which has promoted cultural and tourism consumption and boosted local economic benefits.        

Ms. Mok Ian Ian, President of the Board of Directors of Macao Science Center Limited, congratulated the 2023 LEGO® Education FLL China Open Championship (Intercontinental Tournament) held in Macao and thanked the LEGO® Education FLL China Organization Committee for inviting the Center to co-organize the competition. She said it was one of the large open events that the Center has been involved in hosting since the three-year COVID-19 pandemic. The competition is in line with the mission of Macao Science Center to promote science education and popularization for adolescents and boost high-tech and science dissemination, and conforms to LEGO®'s idea to inspire and cultivate future builders through edutainment. This event will drive the moderate diversification of Macao's economy. She also welcomed participants, their families and mentors to experience the edutainment facilities and science programs of Macao Science Center. At the same time, she suggested that those visiting Macao experience the charm of the Historic Centre of Macao, a world heritage integrating Chinese and Western cultures for 400 years, and expected that Macao, as a City of Gastronomy, would leave the participants with wonderful taste memories.

"Lego® Education has been actively promoting the STEAM learning model of learning through play and hands-on practice for more than 40 years to support the learning of students at all stages and help them develop the core qualities of talent in the 21st century," said Mr. Wang Kanqing, Head of LEGO® Education Events, Greater China. He expects the participants to present their technological and information literacy skills in engineering, mechanical design, computer programming, scientific research, performance and presentation, and artificial intelligence, and hopes that the FLL China Open Championship will develop into an annual event to allow more countries and nations to learn about China and enhance the friendship between countries and people.

The 2023 LEGO® Education FLL China Open Championship (Intercontinental Tournament) is supported by the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Macao Polytechnic University, the Macau University of Science and Technology, the City University of Macau, the Chinese Educators Association of Macau, the Union of Catholic Schools of Macau, and the Macau Gifted Education Association. Guests attending the opening ceremony include: Mok Ian Ian, President of the Board of Directors of Macao Science Center Limited, Wong Ka Ki, Deputy Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Wang Kanqing, Head of LEGO® Education Events, Greater China, Im Sio Kei, President of Macao Polytechnic University, Andy Lau, Associate Dean of Faulty of Data Science of the City University of Macau, Tang Chi-Pui, Assistant Professor of Space Science Research of Macau University of Science and Technology, Fr. Joseph Chow Pak Fai, President of the Union of Catholic Schools of Macau, Sam Iu Cheong, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of Chinese Educators Association of Macau, and partner leaders of the FLL event.

The FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL League) was founded in 1998 by the LEGO® Group, Denmark, and the FIRST Foundation, USA. The competition is divided into three programs by the age of the participants, namely "FLL Discover", "FLL Explore", and "FLL Challenge", and has attracted nearly one million students from over 110 countries. Under the guidance of the coaches, the participating teams are required to flexibly apply their prior knowledge and skills to jointly solve problems and complete various tasks, including designing, building, programming, demonstrating solutions and presenting a summary report using the designated LEGO® educational sets. LEGO® Education and the Information Resource Center of the Ministry of Education of China have entered into an all-around strategic partnership. The winning team from the 2023 LEGO® Education FLL China Open Championship (Intercontinental Tournament) will have the opportunity to represent China to attend the World Championships and Global Finals held annually in Houston, USA in April.

Guests cut the ribbon for the opening ceremony of the 2023 LEGO® Education FLL China Open Championship (Intercontinental Tournament)

Guests visit the results presented by students

###

Macao Science Center Limited                                                                                              36-PR-PUB-23

August 4, 2023