RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
Olympics, Commonwealth, Asian, East Asian and Universiade Games. With a membership of 66 national sports associations, it is the acknowledged voice of sport in Hong Kong.
In conjunction with the municipal councils, the federation co-ordinates the Annual Festival of Sport held since 1958. It also organises education programmes for sports leaders, administrators, coaches and technical officials. Since the early 1970s, many sports leaders and athletes have been sponsored to attend and participate in local and overseas conferences and seminars, such as the annual International Olympic Academy at Olympia.
In conjunction with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Solidarity courses and programmes were organised through various national sports. associations (NSAs) attended by both local and overseas delegates. Through the Hong Kong Coaching Committee, over 4 000 participants have received coach training programmes during the past four years. In co-operation with the United. States Olympic Academy and the University of Oregon, courses on various aspects of sports management and sports science were offered free of charge to the NSAs. Special conferences and seminars on sports medicine and sports science were also organised in conjunction with the Hong Kong Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Science and the Hong Kong Post-Secondary Colleges Athletic Association. These educational activities attracted participants from the territory, Mainland China, and other parts of the world. The IOC has praised and cited the federation for offering such a comprehensive educational programme.
Urban Council Sports and Recreation Facilities
The Urban Council (UC) provides and manages sports and recreational facilities, and runs low-cost introductory classes for people of all ages. It also encourages and promotes sporting activities by subsidising competitions organised by the various governing bodies.
It operates 41 indoor games halls, 16 swimming pool complexes, 136 tennis courts, 185 squash courts and eight sports grounds.
Capital work completed on Hong Kong Island included the UC Smithfield Complex Indoor Games Hall, UC Wong Nai Chung Complex Indoor Games Hall and Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground.
In Kowloon, recreational facilities completed included the Po Kong Village Road Indoor Games Hall, Sin Fat Road Tennis Courts, Ma Chai Hang Recreation Ground and Salisbury Garden.
Good progress was made in the development of the UC Ap Lei Chau Complex in Southern District, the Sai Wan Ho Leisure Centre in Eastern District, the Lai Chi Kok Park Stage II and Shek Kip Mei Park Indoor Games Hall in Sham Shui Po District, the Lok Kwan Street Park in Mong Kok District, the Hong Ning Road Park (Phase I) and Shun Lee Tsuen Recreation Ground in Kwun Tong District, and Ho Man Tin Recreation Ground in Kowloon City District.
Regional Council Sports and Recreation Facilities
To promote recreational and sports activities, the Regional Council organised a total of 7 461 training courses, competitions and recreational programmes for 482 697 people of all ages and abilities in 1996. A total of $25.46 million was allocated for the
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