World Latin Championship

Speech by Chief Minister of Penang 
at World Latin Championship

 on 18 November 2017 (SPICE)

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening and a warm welcome to each and every one of you to the 2017 WDC Professional Latin World Championship. I am proud to announce that the World Dance Council, the controlling body of the world professional Ballroom Dancing, has also granted the 2019 Professional Standard World Championship to the Penang State Government and the Malaysia Ballroom Dancers’ Association the right to host the prestigious, once a year event, to Penang.

This double award by the World Dance Council is unprecedented and a recognition to Penang, unparalleled by any city in South East Asia. The State Government has sponsored RM 400,000 for this event tonight. We intend to sponsor RM 500,000 for the 2019 Professional Standard World Championship next year.

Tonight, in this splendid Setia Spice Convention Centre ballroom, you are fortunate to witness the world most magnificent and glamorous Latin dancing by the best professional Latin dancers from over 27 countries of the world. We built this new RM300 million Setia Spice Convention Centre so that Penang can host international events such as this, give us a platform for world-class performances and to be known as a destination for arts and culture.

I would like to thank all sponsors, spectators, members of the organizing Committee, adjudicators and competitors for supporting tonight world event. To the dancers, we know you will dance your way to our hearts. Let us tap our feet on the ground and reach for the stars.