SATURDAY, JULY 15, 1978
VALUE OF SPORTS FOR THE DISABLED
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THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. JIMMY SWEETMAN, TODAY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS IN HELPING REHABILITATE THE DISABLED AND SAID THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO EXPAND THESE ACTIVITIES.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW HEADQUARTERS OF THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED IN SAU MAU PING ESTATE, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECOGNISED THE NEED OF THE DISABLED TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPORTS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE RECENTLY-PUBLISHED WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION LAID STRESS ON A WELL-ROUNDED APPROACH TO THEIR REHABILITATION.
CONTINUED ASSISTANCE, HE SAID, IS GUARANTEED TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS PREPARED TO PROVIDE THE DISABLED WITH THESE SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES.
AS PROOF OF ITS COMMITMENT, MR. SWEETMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED TO SUPPORT HONG KONG'S BEING HOST TO THE 3RD FAR EAST AND SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES IN 1982.
+HOLDING THESE GAMES IN HONG KONG WILL SERVE AS A NEW SPUR TO THE REHABILITATION EFFORTS TO BE SHARED BY WORKERS IN THE FIELD AND BY THE DISABLED THEMSELVES,+ HE SAID.
EXPLAINING THE VALUE OF SPORTS FOR THE DISABLED HE SAID THAT APART FROM COMPLEMENTING CONVENTIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY IN DEVELOPING THEIR RESIDUAL ABILITIES, SPORTS COULD BE EFFECTIVELY USED TO INSTIL CONFIDENCE IN THE DISABLED AND INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.
WITH COMPETENCE IN SPORTS, HE SAID, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WEAKNESS CAN BE REPAIRED AND CONFIDENCE REGAINED.
THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS, HE ADDED, THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CAN ALSO WIDEN THEIR SOCIAL CONTACTS AND BECOME MORE CAPABLE OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS.
MR. SWEETMAN ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED FOR THEIR WORK IN FOSTERING SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY FOR THE HANDICAPPED.
THE OPENING CEREMONY OF NEW HEADQUARTERS OF THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED SAW HONG KONG'S FIRST DRAGON DANCE ON WHEELCHAIRS PERFORMED BY A GROUP OF PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.
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