The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders to Participate in Hong Kong's Chinese New Year Celebration.

City Desk/Assignment Editors

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 2001

The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders have agreed to represent the United States during Hong Kong's 2001 Chinese New Year celebration January 23 through 26.

The team's acceptance of the invitation from the Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) means all 26 cheerleaders, along with Teresa Schroeder, director of cheerleaders, and associate Shawna Arnold, will take in the excitement of the internationally known celebrations and perform in Cathay Pacific's Chinese New Year's Parade.

Hong Kong's status as an international hub means its Chinese New Year festivities traditionally attract spectators from throughout Asia and around the world. Performers, too, travel from many global points, with participants this year coming from Norway, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, Korea and the Americas, as well as China's mainland, Singapore and the Philippines. Joining the cheerleaders from North America will be a float and performers representing the Calgary (Canada) Stampede.

Local Hong Kong groups will include the Hong Kong Police Silver & Pipe Bands, Butterfly Stilt Walkers and the Danse A Lili Ballet Academie.

It was a growing connection between Hong Kong and Denver that first encouraged HKTA to approach the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders about possible participation in its New Year celebration, an association spokesperson said. But it was as much the cheerleaders' intense dedication to their community and their careers, as it was their perfection of their avocation, that convinced HKTA they were right for the 2001 parade.

In keeping with the celebration's heavy emphasis on friends and family, the cheerleaders will be escorted during the parade by 24 boys from Hong Kong's Mini Ruby Union, each wearing a Denver Broncos jersey.

The cheerleaders will be tossing footballs to the boys from time to time, and they have created a new performance routine just for the occasion, said Schroeder, noting there will be several practice sessions in Denver before the team heads for Hong Kong.

While guests of Hong Kong, the cheerleaders will also be treated to a special Tai Chi Chuan exercise under the guidance of a tai chi master at the Harbor Front Promenade, and a trip to see Hong Kong's famed Bauhinia Blakeana flowering trees, the official flower for the City of Life.

The celebration's focus on family and friends will also be evident as the city becomes awash with colors, sounds and visions. From the massive flower markets, where symbols of prosperity, good fortune and loyalty are gathered, to the holiday lighting displays that turn Hong Kong's well-known skyline into a mass of skyscraper-sized New Year post cards, the beginning of the new lunar year is always spectacular. In addition to the lavish parade, the city boasts a tremendous fireworks display over its Victoria Harbor, with the strobe-like flashes of light reflecting off both Victoria's waters and the mirrored glass buildings that line its shores.

The cheerleaders will depart the Queen City of the Plains for the City of Life on January 20, returning to Denver at the end of the week.