TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1983
+THIS IS THE SITUATION AT THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL, SO TO SPEAK, HE SAID.
ON THE SECOND PART OF THE STRATEGY, MR WIGGHAM SAID THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT AN ADVISORY BODY CONSISTING OF OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS - RECENTLY ADVISED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETITIVE SPORTS SHOULD NOW BE APPROACHED ON A MORE METHODICAL AND SYSTEMATIC BASIS.
+WHEREAS WE HAD PREVIOUSLY RESERVED OUR LIMITED FUNDS
FOR SENDING TEAMS ABROAD, WE NOW FEEL THAT MORE MONEY SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR STRICT DEVELOPMENT, SUCH AS LOCAL AND OVERSEAS TRAINING COURSES, FOR BOTH PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS; ENCOURAGING OUR TEAMS TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE IMMEDIATELY OUTCLASSED AND GENERALLY TO PREPARE THEMSELVES IN A BUSINESSLIKE WAY FOR MAJOR EVENTS, HE SAID.
+FOR ITS PART, THE AMATEUR SPORT FEDERATION AND OLYMP IC COMMITTEE HAS GIVEN NOTICE TO SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS THAT ONLY THOSE SPORTSMEN WHO ARE UP TO STANDARD IN BOTH FITNESS AND SK ILL WILL BE ALLOWED TO REPRESENT HONG KONG.
+THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT HAS BEEN MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION SINCE 1981 BUT WE HAVE NOW TAKEN A MORE DECISIVE STEP IN THAT A SPORTS ASSOCIATION APPLYING FOR FUNDS FOR A TEAM TO REPRESENT HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO SATISFY THE COUNCIL THAT IT HAS BEEN FOLLOWING A TRAINING PROGRAMME LEADING UP TO THE EVENT IN QUESTION, HE ADDED.
AS PART OF THE SAME APPROACH, MR WIGGHAM SAID, A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF TRAINING WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN SHORTLY.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SCHEME THE THIRD PART OF THE STRATEGY IS ALSO ADVISED BY THE COUNCIL.
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IT HAS CONCLUDED THAT TALENT MUST BE DISCOVERED AND NURTURED AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY, PROPOSALS IN THE SCHEME CALL FOR YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS TO TAKE PART IN SCHOOL SPORTS AND COMPETITIONS, AND IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THOSE WITH TALENT FOR FURTHER TRAINING.
TO START THE SCHEME, MORE SCHOOLS SPORTS WILL BE ORGANISED, AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES GIVEN FOR SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS.
IN THIS MAJOR ENTERPRISE, THE EFFORTS OF THE AMATEUR SPORTS FEDERATION, THE SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL BE CO- ORDINATED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL, SO THAT EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND ENCOURAGEMENT CAN BE GIVEN TO OUR YOUNGSTERS TO DEVELOP THEIR TALENT AND SKILL, + MR WIGGHAM SAID.
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