HONG KONG and LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Featuring nine festive floats and 25 local and international performing groups, including the Seattle Seahawks Sea Gals cheerleading squad, the 2018 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade kicked off the first day of the Year of the Dog (16 February) in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the Parade featured fascinating performances and stunts for a vibrant Chinese New Year’s celebration. The HKTB also held roving performances along the route with more than 30 groups interacting with spectators before the show.

Featuring nine festive floats and 25 local and international performing groups, including world champions and world record holders, the 2018 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade kicked off the first day of the Year of the Dog (16 February) in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

This year marked the 23^rd edition of the Parade, with the Sea Gals making their fourth appearance in the history of the parade. Cathay Pacific Airways was the title sponsor for the 20^th consecutive year, and China Construction Bank (Asia) was the route sponsor for the fourth year in a row.

Themed ‘Best Fortune. World Party.’, the Parade featured the strongest ever international cast, consisting of a number of world champions and world record holders, including: the XPOGO Stunt Team from the United States, holder of 13 Guinness World Records; Diaboloism from Taiwan, world champions in Diabolo; award winner and world record holder Zee Comedy Magic and Zeejay Juggler from the Czech Republic; Unicycle Circus Theatre Witty Look from Japan, the winner of various international busking awards; and Jugglers Vision from Japan, a three-time national juggling winner in Japan.

Hot on the heels of the 2018 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade will be a public display of the floats in Tai Po Lam Tsuen from the 2^nd to the 17^th day of the Chinese New Year (17 February to 4 March). On 17 and 18 February, various international performing troupes will grace Tai Po Lam Tsuen, the Pentahotel Hong Kong, Kowloon in San Po Kong and Temple Mall North in Wong Tai Sin with their entertaining shows.

For details of the 2018 Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade, and other activities during Chinese New Year, please visit the HKTB website: DiscoverHongKong.com/ChineseNewYear

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About Hong Kong: Hong Kong's storied history, award-winning food and libations, vibrant arts and culture scene, and stunning great outdoors has made it widely-known as one of the most exhilarating destinations in the world. Its mesmerizing contrasts of east and west, modern and ancient, and urban and natural leaves its visitors endless choices when planning a trip to Asia's World City. Visit www.discoverhongkong.com for more information; follow Hong Kong Tourism Board on Twitter at @HongKongTourism for the latest Hong Kong news and trends.

About the Sea Gals: The Sea Gals are the official cheerleading squad of the Seattle Seahawks professional football team. In addition to entertaining fans on game day, the 28-member cheer squad makes more than 300 public appearances in the community throughout the year. The Sea Gals have performed on the field at three Super Bowls and have appeared on numerous national TV shows including: ESPN, Fox & Friends, Fox Sports, Good Morning America, TODAY Show, Access Hollywood, Inside Edition and NFL Network. The Sea Gals have traveled extensively to perform in Japan, Mexico, and Europe, and in Hong Kong, where they were the first NFL cheerleading team to perform in Hong Kong's Chinese New Year Parade in 1997.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bb00a2d8-e6d3-40eb-8392-2f9245feb679

CONTACT:

Paul M. Garcia/Jackie Alvarez
Hong Kong Tourism Board
(323) 938-7265 / (323) 938-7274
Paul.Garcia@HKTB.com / Jackie.Alvarez@HKTB.com