RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
1990s. Five weekend seminars on sports management were also organised in conjunction with the University of Oregon.
The federation, along with governing sports bodies and the municipal councils, organises the Hong Kong Festival of Sport annually. This large-scale community-building event, held since 1958, attracts wide participation and continues for more than two months.
Urban Council
The Urban Council manages a wide range of sports and recreational facilities, and runs numerous low-cost introductory courses to attract participation by people of all ages. The council also encourages and promotes sporting activities by subsidising competitions organised by various governing bodies.
On Hong Kong Island, three major projects were completed in 1993, namely the Quarry Bay Park, the Peak Road Garden and the Harcourt Garden. The former offers a wide range of recreational facilities including eight tennis courts, a cycling path, a seven-a-side soccer pitch, a jogging track, two basketball courts, two children's play areas and several landscaped areas. The other two venues each provide a landscaped plaza, a children's play area and a landscaped garden.
In Kowloon, two major projects were also completed during the year. The Sam Ka Tsuen Recreation Ground comprises two basketball-cum-volleyball courts, a seven-a-side soccer pitch, a five-a-side soccer pitch, two children's play areas and several landscaped areas. The Shek Kip Mei Park Stage III provides a natural grass soccer-cum-rugby pitch, a seven-a-side soccer pitch, two basketball courts, a jogging track with fitness stations and two landscaped areas. These two new venues offer both active and passive recreational facilities for people of all ages.
Apart from providing new facilities, the council continues to upgrade its existing facilities. During the year, the Smithfield Road Children's Playground, Fat Hing Street Playground, Wun Sha Street Playground, Albany Road Children's Playground, Tong Mei Road Children's Playground and Lei Cheng Uk Playground were improved. New and innovative children's play equipment was added to these playgrounds. The Victoria Park bowling green was resurfaced with artificial turf. To meet the need of schools, additional spectator stands at Aberdeen Sports Ground were provided and a new sports ground at Siu Sai Wan, with a seating capacity of 12 000, is being planned.
The council also embarked on its first adventure playground project. The adventure. playground at Fung Tak Road in Wong Tai Sin will feature selected episodes from the well-known Chinese fable The Adventures of the Monkey King. Taking advantage of the natural topography of the site, the legendary Water Curtain Cave, the birthplace of the Monkey King, will be featured as well as the Mountain of Five Fingers, the Crystal Palace and the Flamed Mountain.
Regional Council
Under the auspices of the Regional Council, over 400 000 people took part in 5 570 training courses, competitions and recreation programmes, including water sports, ball games, racquet games, athletics, archery, fencing, cycling, gymnastics, multigym- fitness and dancing. Region-wide activities were well received with more than 8000 participants.
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