XN000022-1983-01-09 — Page 10

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 1983

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TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ATHLETIC MEET

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LOCAL ATHLETIC MEETINGS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PROVIDING ATHLETES WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEST THE PROGRESS THEY ARE MAKING IN THEIR OWN TRAINING, SAID THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, TODAY (SUNDAY).

SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE 6TH TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ATHLETIC MEET AT KWAI CHUNG SPORTS GROUND,

MR HEYWOOD SAID ATHLETIC MEETINGS ALSO GAVE THE SELECTION COMMITTEE OF THE GOVERNING BODIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPOT THE TALENTS OF YOUNGER ATHLETES.

IN THIS CONNECTION, MR HEYWOOD EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT OTHER DISTRICT ORGANISING BODIES WOULD FOLLOW THE EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE ANNUAL TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ATHLETIC MEET.

HE PRAISED THE CHAIRMAN AND HIS ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK IN BRINGING ABOUT TODAY'S MEETING AND ALSO THE ORGANISING BODIES AND THE HARD WORKING SPORTS OFFICIALS WHO HAD GIVEN THE IR SUPPORT TO THE EVENT.

+YOUR CONTINUING EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS HAVE MADE THIS A WELL-ESTABLISHED AND POPULAR ATHLETIC MEETING, AND LONG MIGHT THESE SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS CONTINUE, MR HEYWOOD SAID.

IN PINPOINTING THE REASON WHY HONG KONG ATHLETES WERE UNABLE TO CARRY AWAY MANY PRIZES FROM THE LARGE INTERNATIONAL ATHLETIC ARENAS, MR HEYWOOD SAID IT WAS GENERALLY FELT THAT IT WAS THE TREMENDOUS PRESSURE ON LIVING SPACE IN HONG KONG AND THE SCHOOL CHILDREN BEING UNABLE TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF DEDICATED SCHOOL RECREATION FACILITIES EARLY IN THEIR LIVES.

+THEY HAVE HAD TO LOOK TO A SMALL NUMBER OF PUBLIC FACILITIES SUCH AS THE KWAI CHUNG SPORTS GROUND FOR THE IR ORGANISED ACTIVE RECREATION, AND SUCH FACILITIES TOO HAVE BEEN IN DESPARATELY SHORT SUPPLY, BECAUSE OF THE MANY OTHER PRIORITIES WE HAVE FACED IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING PROGRAMME, HE CONTINUED.

+I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOW GRADUALLY CHANGING AS MORE AND MORE DISTRICT RECREATION FACILITIES ARE BEING DEVELOPED FOR USE BY SCHOOLS AND ADULTS ALIKE WHILE SOME OF OUR OLDER FACILITIES ARE BEING IMPROVED, ENLARGED AND MODERNIZED, MR HEYWOOD SAID.

+ IT IS THEREFORE VERY IMPORTANT THAT AT THIS STAGE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT WE SHOULD NOT LOSE HEART FROM OUR RECENT FAILURE BUT THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTING ARENA AND, WITH MORE RECREATION FACILITIES IN WHICH TO TRAIN AND PREPARE THERE WE SHOULD STRIVE, AS ALL ATHLETES DO, TO BETTER OUR PERFORMANCES, HE ADDED.

WISHING ALL 500 ATHLETES OF TSUEN WAN, KWA! CHUNG AND TSING YI TAKING PART IN TODAY'S MEETING ALL GOOD FORTUNE IN THE IR COMPETITION, MR HEYWOOD REMINDED THEM THAT GOOD FORTUNE ALONE DID NOT WIN THE RACE. +HARD AND CONTINUOUS TRAINING IS NEEDED, ADDED.

HE

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