RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
Try' Scheme, the Gold Card Fitness Scheme, the Vitality Month for Older Persons and the Recreation and Sports Highlights for persons with a disability.
In recognition of 1999 being the International Year for Older Persons, the council specifically organised 862 recreation and sports activities for 79 000 senior citizens. The council continued to run its Sports Subsidy Scheme, which provided financial assistance to sports associations for organising sports events, training programmes and competitions aimed at promoting sport in the wider community. În 1999, the council spent $30.83 million on 4 100 sports programmes which attracted 370 000 participants and 600 000 spectators. Some of the most popular programmes were the Provisional Urban Council School Sports Programmes, Hong Kong Badminton (Award) Training Scheme, Provisional Urban Council Cup Basketball Tournament, Youth Football Scheme, Table Tennis Development Programmes, the annual Festival of Sport and the Provisional Urban Council Inter-District Sports Competition.
During the year, the council helped with the organisation of the 4th World Swimming Championships, the 10th Asian Senior Women's Volleyball Championship, the Super-Power Challenge Cup, the National Outdoor Target Archery Championship, the FINA Diving Grand Prix 1999 and the 5th World Wushu Championships. These major international sporting events reinforced Hong Kong's status as one of the region's leading centres for sport.
Provisional Regional Council Sports and Recreation Programmes
In order to help promote recreational and sports activities throughout the community, the Provisional Regional Council organised 9 827 training courses, competitions and recreational programmes for 372 100 people of all ages and abilities in 1999. The council spent $32.35 million on the organisation of a variety of programmes, including athletics, water sports, ball games, racket games, fitness, dance, tai chi, camping, excursions, golf and lawn bowls. A further 592 activities were organised with the help of the respective national sports associations under the Young Athletes Training Scheme, which provided training in swimming, badminton, table-tennis, football and basketball for 22 700 participants.
Sports Subsidy Scheme
The council's Sports Subsidy Scheme, established in 1986, provided financial backing for sporting events organised by sports associations and other non-profit-making associations. In 1999, a subsidy of $10.8 million was granted to support 3 060 sports events under this scheme in which over 290 000 people took part.
Events across Hong Kong
The Corporate Games, aimed specifically at the working population, attracted 10 000 participants from 207 industrial and commercial organisations in 19 sports competitions. The Masters Games, held for the 35 and above age group, attracted around 3 000 participants in 12 competitions.
Activities marking the Millennium and Traditional Festivals
The Provisional Regional Council and the Provisional Urban Council jointly organised a wide range of programmes in celebration of the new millennium. These
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