STORY: Geneva's Marmite race lights up with Chinese culture
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 7, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 8, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:20
LOCATION: GENEVA, Switzerland
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the festival
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): XIAO PING, General Manager at Bank of China Geneva branch, Participant of the event
3. various of the festival

STORYLINE:

As part of the Course de l'Escalade festival celebrations, runners embraced the Marmite race's playful spirit on a rainy Saturday evening in Geneva, Switzerland.

This year, traditional Chinese dragon and panda figures added a vibrant cultural dimension to the historic procession, delighting crowds that braved the drizzle to witness the spectacle.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): XIAO PING, General Manager at Bank of China Geneva branch, Participant of the event
"The Course de l'Escalade festival is Geneva's most traditional festival, commemorating the history when the people of Geneva resisted foreign invaders. This year, we have brought members of the Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce to participate in the festival. We have also brought the most distinctive elements of China, the panda and the dragon, to the festival, with the hope of promoting Chinese culture through this traditional event. Along the way, we have been greeted by people from Geneva and various other countries, expressing their interest in Chinese culture. The panda and the dragon have been particularly well-received, reflecting the popularity of Chinese culture here."

Despite wet conditions, over 5,200 participants filled Geneva's old town to wear creative costumes and parade through the cobblestone streets.

The Course de l'Escalade festival is celebrated annually on Dec. 12, in honor of Geneva's legendary defense against the Duke of Savory in 1602.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Geneva, Switzerland.
(XHTV)