WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1979
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WORK ON JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE TO START SOON
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WORK ON THE FIRST PHASE OF THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE IN SHA TIN IS EXPECTED TO START SOON.
UPON COMPLETION IN MAY 1982, THE FACILITIES IN THE CENTRE MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE USE OF THE FAR EAST AND SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES FOR THE DISABLED (FESPIC GAMES), TO BE HOSTED BY HONG KONG IN OCTOBER 1982.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE HON. LI FOOK-WO WHEN HE TABLED THE 2ND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE BOARD FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1979, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE BOARD, MR. LI SAID, HAD RECEIVED SOME $12.6 MILLION DURING THE YEAR FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THE QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE APPEAL IN HONG KONG.
+IN ADDITION TO MATCHING THIS SUM, THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB HAS RECENTLY AGREED UPON A SECOND GENEROUS DONATION OF $70 MILLION.
+TOGETHER WITH THE $25 MILLION TO BE CONTRIBUTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY $120 MILLION AVAILABLE TO START THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT.+
MR. LI RECALLED THAT WHEN AN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN COMPETITION FOR THE CENTRE WAS HELD LAST YEAR, NO LESS THAN 73 ENTRIES AND 52 SETS OF PLANS AND DRAWINGS WERE RECEIVED.
HE NOTED THE PANEL OF JUDGES, HEADED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, DID NOT HAVE AN EASY TASK IN DECIDING ON THE WINNING ENTRY, SINCE THE SITE COVERS SOME 41 ACRES AND THE COMPETITORS WERE REQUIRED TO DESIGN A GROUP OF BUILDINGS AIMED AT PROVIDING ADEQUATE AND UP-TO-DATE FACILITIES FOR TRAINING THE TALENTED ATHLETE.+
MR. LI SAID MUCH HAD BEEN DONE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NUCLEUS OF THE COACHING STAFF.
A CHIEF COACH WAS APPOINTED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR AND SINCE THEN FIVE SPECIALIST COACHES HAVE ALSO BEEN RECRUITED, RESPONSIBLE RESPECTIVELY FOR TABLE TENNIS, SOCCER, SQUASH, BADMINTON AND FENCING.
+WITH THESE COACHES NOW AVAILABLE TO TEACH AT GRASS ROOTS LEVEL, THE CENTRE HAS AN IDENTITY AND HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO PROVIDE TOP LEVEL COACHING FOR LOCAL ATHLETES AND SPORTS MEN AT THE MODERN SPORTS COMPLEX OF LA SALLE COLLEGE.
+ IT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE PUPILS OF LA SALLE COLLEGE FOR TWO EVENINGS IN EVERY WEEK, BUT MORE IMPORTANT, WILL SERVE AS A TEMPORARY VENUE FOR THE PROGRAMME OF TRAINING TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE COACHES OF THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE UNTIL THE FACILITIES AT SHA TIN ARE READY FOR USE.+
BUT MR. LI POINTED OUT THAT MUCH REMAINED TO BE DONE BEFORE THE CENTRE WOULD PLAY ITS COMPREHENSIVE ROLE IN THE GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT OF STANDARDS IN SPORTS. +WITH THE HELP OF THE LOCAL SPORTS COMMUNITY WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT FURTHER PROGRESS WILL BE MADE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD, HE ADDED.