Sands China and MSO Co-organise 2025 MSO Sands China Cup
In support of MSO Healthy Athletes programme Featuring athletes from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao to promote the spirit of inclusion and mutual support ahead of National Games
(Macao, Aug 21, 2025) – Co-organised by Sands China Ltd. and the Macau Special Olympics (MSO), the 2025 MSO Sands China Cup – Greater Bay Area Badminton Invitational was held Aug. 9 at the Macao East Asian Games Dome, in line with the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games to be held across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in December – while demonstrating Sands China’s support for the Macau Special Olympics Healthy Athletes programme. The debut of the badminton tournament attracted over 200 athletes from the three regions, who were assisted on-site by a group of 60 volunteers, including Sands Cares Ambassadors, as well as volunteers from the Scout Association of Macau, Macau Baptist College, and the MSO Ambassador programme.
The 2025 MSO Sands China Cup is co-organised by Sands China and Macau Special Olympics, sponsored by the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, and supported by the Badminton Federation of Macau.
The tournament brought together top athletes from the Guangdong Special Olympics Badminton Team, Special Olympics Hong Kong Team, and Macau Special Olympics. The more than 90 exciting matches included individual competitions that tested fundamental skills, Special Olympics singles and doubles, inclusive doubles that embodied the spirit of mutual support, and the challenging wheelchair badminton category featuring members of the Macau Association of Support for the Disabled. The one-day tournament ended with an awards ceremony, where 25 awards were presented; prizes and trophies were sponsored by Sands China.
The company also arranged accommodation at The Londoner Grand and a special tour of its integrated resorts for the Guangdong and Hong Kong teams. Led by the Sands Cares Ambassadors, a group of 60 toured The Londoner Macao® on Aug. 8 and visited Sands China’s Art Macao Special Exhibition “Dopamine: Fountain of Happiness,” enjoyed stunning views of the Cotai Strip from the Level 37 observation deck of The Parisian® Macao’s Eiffel Tower, and savoured a refined lunch at La Chine.
Afterwards, athletes of the two teams received “FUNfitness,” “Health Promotion,” and “Strong Minds” health evaluations from the MSO Healthy Athletes programme. Conducted by professionals from various fields, this signature initiative promotes the health of MSO athletes by providing disease prevention education and health screenings, aiming to comprehensively enhance their health and unleash their athletic potential.
“Sands China is committed to serving the local community we have called home throughout the years,” said Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd. “For 11 years now, we have been privileged to support the Macau Special Olympics Healthy Athletes programme, as we continue to promote inclusion, sports and public health by providing vital resources and support to the MSO athletes. As we await the highly-anticipated sports extravaganza – the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games – at the end of the year, we are delighted to celebrate the event by hosting the ‘2025 MSO Sands China Cup – Greater Bay Area Badminton Invitational.’ We are honoured to have the Guangdong Disabled Persons’ Federation and the Hong Kong Special Olympics team join us in Macao alongside the Macau Special Olympics athletes. Their presence has already set off the first wave of excitement for the upcoming national Games. The inclusive MSO Sands China Cup not only demonstrates the boundless nature of sports, but also provides a valuable cross-regional platform for skills exchange among athletes.
“We would like to sincerely thank our long-standing partner Macau Special Olympics for their years of providing resources and assistance to the community, the Macao Sports Bureau and the Badminton Federation of Macau for their strong support of the tournament, the selfless contributions of Sands Cares Ambassadors as well as various volunteer teams, and the passionate dedication of the teams and athletes from the three regions. We hope the athletes will continue to reach ever-higher personal milestones and achieve outstanding results in the competition.”
Sands China has supported the Macau Special Olympics Healthy Athletes programme since 2014; the programme has provided more than 7,000 health screenings to individuals with intellectual disabilities in Macao and funded follow-up medical care for more than 850 individuals. In recognition of the company’s impact, MSO awarded Sands China the Health Leadership Award from Special Olympics International and the Golisano Foundation in 2020 and 2024.
Sands China recently held two community events to expand the MSO Healthy Athletes programme’s services into the Greater Bay Area, conducting a series of health screenings for athletes who are set to participate in the National Special Olympic Games – in hopes of raising public awareness of the physical and mental health development of people with intellectual disabilities.
2025 Greater Bay Area Special Needs Healthcare Day Jointly organised by Sands China, the Macau Special Olympics, and the Guangzhou Xinyou Mental Handicapped Service Association for People with Disabilities, the 2025 Greater Bay Area Special Needs Healthcare Day was held June 20 at Guangdong Lingnan Modern Technician College. The event served some of the Guangzhou athletes participating in the upcoming National Special Olympics Games, helping them improve their performance with examinations, assessments, and relaxation exercises. Sands China arranged for Sands Cares Ambassador community volunteers, Macao medical professionals, and medical equipment to go to screening sites in Guangzhou, where the 20 Ambassadors – who have specialised training from the Healthy Athletes programme – assisted in conducting physical examinations for around 40 individuals with intellectual disabilities.
2025 Special Olympics Community – Healthy Athletes Programme Nearly 100 individuals with intellectual disabilities participated in the 2025 Special Olympics Community – Healthy Athletes Programme event July 12 at Saint Paul School Macau (Escola São Paulo). Jointly organised by Macau Special Olympics and Sands China Ltd., the event featured seven professional health assessment services, and interactive booths and community health forums themed on sports and health knowledge, promoting social inclusion.
At the event’s opening ceremony, Catherine Kong, vice president of corporate communications and community affairs for Sands China Ltd., presented a ceremonial cheque for MOP 708,700 to Macau Special Olympics on behalf of Sands China Ltd. The donation will be allocated to three key areas, the first of which is continuing the company’s funding of the Healthy Athletes programme, which aims to improve the health of people with intellectual disabilities and reduce relevant parenting stress.
Secondly, the donation will help the Macau Special Olympics Badminton Team prepare for the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympics Games at the end of the year. Finally, the financial contribution helped sponsor the MSO Sands China Cup and funded a professional pre-competition training programme for participating badminton players, helping MSO athletes pursue their dreams.
Sands China’s community initiatives and the Sands Cares Ambassador programme for volunteerism are part of the Sands Cares global corporate citizenship programme.
Photo caption: Athletes from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao participate in the 2025 MSO Sands China Cup – Greater Bay Area Badminton Invitational Aug. 9 at the Macao East Asian Games Dome. The event served as a prelude for the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games being held across the three regions in December, while supporting the Macau Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes programme.
Photo caption: Teams from Guangdong and Hong Kong enjoy three days and two nights of accommodation provided by Sands China and a tour on Aug. 8 led by the Sands Cares Ambassadors. They embarked on a tour filled with diverse cultural elements: a stroll through the luxurious and elegant The Londoner Macao (bottom-left photo), a visit to the immersive “Dopamine: Fountain of Happiness” special exhibition for Art Macao (top photo), an ascent to Level 37 of The Parisian Macao’s Eiffel Tower to take in the Cotai Strip views (bottom-right photo), and a refined lunch at La Chine.
Photo caption: Sands China holds the 2025 Greater Bay Area Special Needs Healthcare Day June 20 at Guangdong Lingnan Modern Technician College in Guangzhou, aimed at expanding the Macau Special Olympics Healthy Athletes programme into the Greater Bay Area.
Photo caption: Sands Cares Ambassador community volunteers with specialised training from the Healthy Athletes programme help conduct physical examinations for around 40 individuals with intellectual disabilities during the 2025 Greater Bay Area Special Needs Healthcare Day.
Photo caption: Nearly 100 individuals with intellectual disabilities participate in the ‘2025 Special Olympics Community – Healthy Athletes Programme’ event July 12 at Saint Paul School Macau, jointly organized by Macau Special Olympics and Sands China Ltd. The event featured seven professional health assessment services, and interactive booths and community health forums themed on sports and health knowledge, promoting social inclusion.
Photo caption: At the ‘2025 Special Olympics Community – Healthy Athletes Programme’ event’s opening ceremony, Catherine Kong (right), vice president of corporate communications and community affairs for Sands China Ltd., presents a ceremonial cheque for MOP 708,700 to Macau Special Olympics on behalf of Sands China Ltd. The donation continues the company’s funding of the Healthy Athletes programme, which aims to improve the comprehensive care for the physical and mental health of people with special needs.