CHINA: Hundreds of pillow fighters engage in battle in Hong Kong's financial district

Record ID: 375734

  • Title: CHINA: Hundreds of pillow fighters engage in battle in Hong Kong's financial district
  • Date: 5th April 2014
  • Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (APRIL 5, 2104) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILLOW FIGHTERS THROWING PILLOWS INTO AIR AND CHEERING VARIOUS OF PILLOW FIGHT ORGANISER, TOM GRUNDY, ADDRESSING CROWD THROUGH MEGAPHONE COUNT DOWN TO PILLOW FIGHT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HAVING PILLOW FIGHT (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG PILLOW FIGHT ORGANISER, TOM GRUNDY, SAYING: "Well, as much as I'd like to say it's a
  • Embargoed: 20th April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Hong Kong, China
  • City:
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA50OSXYRLUUK1MUQ2LMWNY0JL
  • Story Text: Armed with pillows and dressed in pyjamas, hundreds waged battle in the heart of Hong Kong's financial district to mark International Pillow Fight Day.
    Organiser, Tom Grundy, explained the reason behind the event.

    "Well, as much as I'd like to say it's a community expression of reclaiming public space. It's actually for no good reason. It's the international pillow fight day. A non-commercial, nonsensical, non-political community event of love and unity," said Grundy.
    The day was marked in 100 cities around the globe, and Grundy said that in a fast-paced city like Hong Kong, pillow fighting was a perfect distraction to the daily grind.

    "Yeah, it's happening in 100 countries, no, 100 cities around the world. And in Hong Kong it's quite a high pressure city, so it's a good chance for everyone to let off some steam. (is attacked by pillow fighters) any more questions?" said Grundy.
    Many of the participants were students and school children, about to sit crucial exams.

    "I'm here just to let out steam and to be a kid again because you've got people telling you you've got exams coming up. Especially this time of year in Hong Kong. All the teenagers here have got exams coming soon. And it's just to let off steam and just to be a kid again. Because we don't want a job, we want to be pillow fighters when we grow up," said a 13-year-old schoolgirl, Paris.
    As the feathers flew, 21-year-old Hong Kong University student, Michael Kinder, said he just liked seeing people with pillows.

    "To have a pillow, to have a pillow fight. It's just nice seeing people with pillows every now and again. You just have to get it out of your system," said Kinder.
    Beating is other in their night wear, a group of 18-year-old said that they came to the event to relieve the stress of schoolwork.

    "Pressure, so much pressure. School work," they said.
    The one-hour fight proceeded without incident and no serious injuries, apart from the pillows.
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