6th November, Yancheng: The 31st Asian Intercity Bowling Championships, hosted for the first time in city of Yancheng, China and attended by some of Yancheng's top government officials was declared open on Monday.

Ten member cities of the Asian Intercity Bowling Council together with six guest cities will be vying for glory at the 31st edition of the immensely popular and friendly championship at Yancheng Bowling Center from November 5 to 12.

Happy Valley, Hong Kong, Kowloon, New Territories from Hong Kong, China, Kuala Lumpur city from Malaysia, Macau, Paranaque City and Pasay City from Philippines, Wuhan and host Yancheng from China are the member cities.

Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Yangzhou from China, Chinese Taichung from Chinese Taipei and Jeju from Korea are the guest cities invited to participate making it a total of 16 participating cities and a total of 133 players.

Also present were Mr Zhang Busheng, Deputy Secretary General of Yancheng Municipal Government, Mr Huang Kai, Vice Chief of the 4th Office of Multi-ball Games Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport of China, Mr Ni Xiangrong, President of Dafeng Port Holdings Group, Mr Gary Smith, Vice President of International Sales, Brunswick.

Other dignitaries included Mr Chung Younghee, Prof with the Korean National Sport University, Mr Wang Jiaxin, Project Supervisor fof China Bowling Association, AIBC Vice President, Mr Richard Lai, AIBC Council members, Ms Nena Yap, Mr James Dela Cruz, Mr Frankie Cheung, Ms Michelle Wong and Mr Sun Yongliang, Vice President of main sponsor Huifeng Group.

Speeches by Mr Ge Qifa, Mr Huang Kai, Mr Johnson Cheng and Mr Sun Yongliang followed thereafter. Ms Peng Rui, team member of Yancheng, took the oath on behalf of the players and a referee took the oath on behlf of the officials.