Brush with Royalty: Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, a major stakeholder in the Four Seasons Hotel, said he plans to open more hotel chains on the Papagayo Peninsula in the northwestern city of Liberia at a press conference today in the Presidential Palace, flanked by President Oscar Arias (center) and Presidency Minister Rodrigo Arias (right).

Novelties to the big screen – surfing penguins – will be making their Costa Rica debut soon in the new film “Surf's Up,” and a benefit screening is planned for Thursday to raise money for Tico athletes to attend the upcoming Summer Special Olympics in Shanghai, China.

Second Mesoamerica in Literature Encounter
Meso-American writing and culture, today through Saturday, Mexico Institute, Los Yoses, east of San José.

Martes por la Noche Concerts
Akustik Ensemble, 7 p.m., University of Costa Rica (UCR) School of Music, San Pedro.

By Peter Krupa
Tico Times Staff | pkrupa@ticotimes.net

Just a few months after forming diplomatic relations with mainland China, Costa Rica will be hosting its first ever trade fair next week, featuring Chinese companies looking to sell their products here.

Organizers say the event has been in the works since before Costa Rica changed diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China in June (TT, June 8), and that it was one more step in the process of warming the commercial relationship between the two countries.

Known as the China Trade Exposition, the event will take place from Aug. 22 to 25 at the Hotel Herradura, outside San José .

Thirty Chinese companies will have booths in the 2,400-square-meter space, representing industries from garment and automobile manufacturing to makers of artificial Christmas trees.

The event will be open to the public from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. the first three days, and it will close at 6 p.m. the last day. It is sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, a public-private Chinese trade organization that was founded in 1952.

By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net

Sheets of rain falling recently in the northwestern Guanacaste province have led the National Emergency Commission (CNE) to declare a yellow alert for the area to warn citizens of flood danger, according to CNE spokeswoman Rebeca Madrigal.

The alert applies to the cantons of Hojancha, Carrillo, Nandayure, Nicoya, La Cruz, Santa Cruz, Bagaces, Cañas and Abangares, according to a statement released yesterday by the commission.

In some areas, families were evacuated as a preventive measure. The commission helped move 33 families from their homes in the town of San Cecilia, Santa Cruz, and in the canton of Sardinal, 47 people were moved to a temporary shelter Sunday night.

Infrastructure damages have also occurred; bridges were swept away by rivers in Paso Hondo de Santa Cruz, Sardinal and Santa Cruz, leading to Barrio Limón.

On Sunday, the commission opened a coordination center to attend emergencies that occurred during the past few days in the province in communities including Río Cañas Viejo, Santa Cecilia, Guabo, Guayabal, Barrio Limón de Santa Cruz, Lorena de Cartagena, El Coco, Las Palmas and San Martín de Carillo. Local emergency commissions are sending supplies to these areas.

Heavy rains are also affecting the rest of the country. A green, preventive alert has also been declared for the Northern Zone, Central Pacific, southern Pacific and Central Valley, the statement said

Novelties to the big screen – surfing penguins – will be making their Costa Rica debut soon in the new film “Surf's Up,” and a benefit screening is planned for Thursday to raise money for Tico athletes to attend the upcoming Summer Special Olympics in Shanghai, China.

This special premiere screening is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Cinépolis theater in Terramall, east of San José, according to a statement the event's organizer Discine.

Sixty athletes hope to compete in these Olympics, being held Oct. 2-11, in swimming, soccer, track and field and cycling.

“We feel that this movie contributes to the spirit of these special athletes and their participation in these upcoming competitions, which is why we have organized this event to raise funds,” the statement said. All revenue from ticket sales will benefit the athletes.

Tickets to the screening are on sale now at the theater's box office. Regular seats are ¢2,100 (about $4), and tickets for the VIP theater are ¢4,000 (about $8).

Special athletes, as well as the Quicksilver national surf teams will be on hand at the screening.

“Surf's Up” is the story of a penguin named Cody Maverick who enters his first professional competition, leaving his family behind in Antarctica to travel to a far-away island.

Those who'd like more information about fundraising efforts for the upcoming Special Olympics can contact Mónica López at mlopez@olimpiadasespecialescr.org or by calling 286-6060 or 390-5322.