【golftime讯】2007年5月14日，“美的”中国精英赛新闻发布会在广东顺德君兰国际高尔夫俱乐部召开，美的集团副总裁黄晓明、亚巡赛执行主席齐拉汉、国家体育总局小球运动管理中心副主任王立伟、广东省高尔夫球协会副秘书长姜勇军、佛山市顺德区文体广电新闻出版局局长张新杰、中信朝向高尔夫管理有限公司总经理陈朝行、君兰国际高尔夫俱乐部总经理梁国平、卫冕冠军、中国首席职业高尔夫球手张连伟等出席了新闻发布会。2007年，“美的”中国精英赛将总奖金提升为40万美元，同时级别也从国内职业赛事升级为亚巡赛赛事，并将于9月13-16日在顺德君兰国际高尔夫俱乐部举行。以下是亚巡赛主席齐拉汉致辞：

越来越多的亚巡赛在中国举办，齐拉汉成了中国的常客。（摄影：golftime·阿沛）

尊敬的领导、各位嘉宾、女士们先生们、媒体的朋友及所有亚巡赛的朋友们：

　　大家好！

　　非常高兴能代表亚巡赛所有球手及组织前来参加“美的”中国精英赛亚巡赛签约仪式及新闻发布会。

　　这场全新的赛事代表着中国职业赛事的发展已跨入一个新纪元，亚巡赛本身对于美的集团将其发展为亚巡赛经典赛事的期望深具信心。

　　中国高尔夫运动的发展速度惊人，近年来早已成为世界球坛的焦点所在，而“美的”中国精英赛的诞生，即将印证中国高尔夫在世界球坛未来的发展中扮演举足轻重的角色。

　　亚巡赛这个赛季将有6场不同的中国区例赛。这完全是所有资助商鼎力支持之下的成果，为我们及中国球员们提供了最直接的协助。在此特别要利用这个机会向美的集团致上最诚挚的谢意。

　　而美的集团在未来的三年中，承诺每年增加10万美元赛事奖金的美意，亦将引来更多世界级球手的关注及成为新生代球手的代表性赛事。

　　我也要感谢赛事场地君兰国际高尔夫俱乐部的贡献，将这一座美丽的锦标级赛场提供给我们全体球手们，相信所有人都会在场中享受挑战，发挥精湛球技。

　　高尔夫虽然是个人自我挑战的运动，但是没有大家的支持，成长绝对是有限的。亚巡赛和中国高尔夫球协会在近年来以紧密的合作为所有的朋友们带来精彩的比赛。谢谢中高协支持我们在中国全力发展高尔夫顶级赛事的雄心，没有中高协的支持，亚巡赛就不会在中国发扬光大。

　　此谨代表所有亚巡赛的球手们，谢谢百忙中抽空前来的媒体朋友们，你们的支持使球迷们得以无时无刻不享受到球赛的精彩，这才是最令人开心兴奋的事。

　　最后希望大家一定在九月份前来欣赏“美的”中国精英赛，我们九月见！

　　谢谢！

Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests, sponsors, members of the media and friends of Asian golf.

I am delighted to be here for this press conference with my colleagues from Midea and China Golf Association to announce the launch of the Midea China Classic.

This new event will mark another wonderful milestone for the development of golf in China and the Asian Tour is truly confident that the Midea China Classic can become an important event on our growing Schedule.

As an emerging golf nation, China has very much been the focal point over the last few years and the inauguration of the Midea China Classic will reinforce the growing belief that this great nation will play a major role in the development of the game globally in the years to come.

This season, the Asian Tour will visit China on six different occasions, thanks largely to the growing support of corporate China. Sponsorship is the lifeblood of professional sport and I would like to take this opportunity to extend our fullest appreciation to Midea for title sponsoring this new tournament.

Midea has committed to stage this tournament for the next three years and will also raise the total prize money by US$100,000 every year, which is wonderful news for our talented players.

I would also like to extend my appreciation to the prestigious Royal Orchid International Golf Club which will be the host venue for the inaugural tournament. The Club is committed in its efforts to ensure a successful launch and Im sure its championship course will present a challenging test to the players.

Golf is an individual sport but partnerships are equally important for the game to maintain its growth. The Asian Tour and China Golf Association have forged a strong working relationship over the past few years and I would like to say "Thank You" to the CGA for sharing in our ambition and vision to promote golf in China and across Asia.

As the governing body for professional golf in Asia, I would like to thank the members of the media as your support and coverage will help ensure that the excitement that the game generates is carried out well beyond fairways and greens.

Thank you all for attending this press conference and I hope to see all of you again in the Midea China Classic in September.