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RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS
Sports Subsidy Scheme
The LCSD continued to run the Sports Subsidy Scheme (SSS), which provides financial assistance to sports associations for organising sports events, training programmes and competitions. In 2000, the department spent $38 million on 5 184 sports programmes which attracted 504 450 participants. Among the most popular programmes were the Youth Football Scheme, 'New Generation' Table Tennis Training Courses, Youth Windsurfing Promotion Scheme, Life Saving Training Scheme, Hong Kong Youth (Boys and Girls) Basketball Training Scheme and the Children Badminton Promotion Scheme.
During the year, National Sports Associations were given subsidies under the SSS to organise the FINA Swimming World Cup, the Hong Kong Marathon, the COSCO 2000 Olympic Table Tennis Asian Qualifying Tournament, the 10th- Asian Squash Championships, the Asian Snooker Championship, the 2nd HKSAR International Handball Invitation Tournament, the 6th Asian Youth Cadet Fencing Championships and the 14th Asian Taekwondo Championship. The hosting of these international sporting events helped to reinforce Hong Kong's status as one of Asia's leading centres for sport.
District Festivals Subsidy Scheme
The District Festivals Subsidy Scheme helps district-based organisations to stage public recreation, sports and cultural activities. Programmes include arts festivals, sports festivals and events celebrating the Tuen Ng Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day, New Year, Lunar New Year and the Spring Lantern Festival. During the year, a total of $26 million was allocated to the 18 districts in support of about 147 district festival celebrations for the enjoyment of over 3 500 000 people.
Sports and Recreational Venues
Hong Kong Stadium
This is Hong Kong's largest sports venue with 40 000 seats. The stadium is used mainly for football and rugby matches, although large-scale religious gatherings and fund raising events for charity are also held. In total, 366 700 spectators attended 30 events at the venue in 2000.
Other Sports and Recreational Venues
The LCSD manages 80 indoor games halls and recreation centres, 34 swimming pool complexes, 263 tennis courts, 319 squash courts, 24 sports grounds, four holiday camps, four water sports centres, four golf driving ranges and two public riding schools.
Nine major new recreation and sports venues were completed in 2000: the Island East Sports Centre, the Island East Swimming Pool, Jordan Valley Playground (Phase II Stage I), Hong Ning Road Park (Phase II), Sam Ka Tsuen Leisure Centre, Sheung Lok Street Rest Garden (Site A), Hammer Hill Park, Lai Chi Kok Park 'Lingnan Garden' and Sai Kung Swimming Pool (Phase II). Work was in progress on several other projects, including the Improvement to Victoria Park, Quarry Bay Park (Phase II Stage I), Promenade at Siu Sai Wan, Recreational Development of District Open Space at North Ap Lei Chau Reclamation (Phase II): Improvement to Aberdeen Sports Ground, Ping Shek Playground, Jordan Valley Playground