The world's best Santa is a Hong Kong man
The Santa Claus Winter Games drew Santa impersonators from the unlikely locales of Hong Kong, Japan, Burundi and South Africa on Sunday.Would you believe it -- Hong Kong is also home to the world’s best Santa. Yes, we’re talking about the sub-tropical city that's never seen a single icicle except for the plastic stuff.
44-year-old Hong Konger Jimmy Chan was crowned the "Number One Santa" title after outshining eight contestants from around the globe at the Santa Claus Winter Games, held at Gaellivare, a Swedish town some 100 km north of the Arctic Circle.
The Hong Kong Santa (who leads a double life as a magician back home) clamored up chimney tops, gulped down Swedish porridge, reindeer-raced and kick-sledded his way to victory while braving a minus 20 degrees Celsius chill.
Chan, who neither knew Swedish or English, said “Merry Christmas!” in Cantonese when invited to speak on Swedish TV.
It's been a long journey for Chan, who shook off seven other Hong Kong Santas in the qualifying heats two years ago. In a post-match interview in 2007, Chan told local papers that he was ‘kid at heart’ and that he loved playing with children.
The Santa games were held as part of the Snöyran winter festival and was first initiated by the granddaddy of Santa impersonations, Santa Sivert, in 2003.
Read more on the CNNGo app for iPhone / Android / Nokia now!
Get the latest travel and lifestyle news and views from across Asia. Discover more about your city with the best in local coverage and perspectives. Find out where to shop, play, drink, eat and escape - www.cnngo.com/mobile
