XN000022-1983-04-01 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1983

MORE SPORT LEADERS BEING TRAINED

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THE TRAINING OF SPORT INSTRUCTORS AND RECREATION LEADERS IS BEING STEPPED UP THIS YEAR.

FIVE THOUSAND MORE PEOPLE WILL BE TRAINED TO BECOME COMPETENT IN THE ORGANISING AND COACHING OF SPORTS AND RECREATION, ACCORDING TO MR DICKEN YUNG, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, RECREATION AND SPORT, OF THE RECREATION" AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT.

IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT'S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE HAS ORGANISED COURSES AND SEMINARS TO TRAIN 10 000 INSTRUCTORS, OFFICIALS AND LEADERS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

*THE TRAINING SCHEME WILL EASE PRESSURE ON PRESENT RESOURCES AS THERE IS A BIG DEMAND FOR INSTRUCTORS TO HELP VOLUNTARY BODIES AND SPORTS ORGANISATIONS TO CONDUCT RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES,+ HE SAID.

ACCORDING TO MR YUNG, SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND SKILLS ARE AMONG THE +ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS+ OF THE SERVICE'S TRAINING PROGRAMME.

BESIDES BEING A TRAINING SCHOOL+, THE RSS REGULARLY ARRANGES SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES,

SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN OCTOBER 1974, THE RSS HAS ORGANISED SOME 25 000 PROJECTS FOR THREE MILLION PEOPLE.

IN 1982 MORE THAN 574 000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN ABOUT 7 150 PROJECTS, COMPARED WITH 530 600 PEOPLE WHO TOOK PART IN 6 900 PROJECTS IN 1981.

OVER 75 PER CENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 45, AND MOST WERE FACTORY WORKERS, YOUTHS AND OFFICE EMPLOYEES.

THE ACTIVITIES RANGED FROM ATHLETICS, HIKING AND SAILING TO DANCING, FITNESS EXERCISES AND OTHER RECREATIONAL EVENTS.

IN ADDITION, MR YUNG SAID, THE DEPARTMENT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNING BODIES OF SPORTS AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE OVERALL SCHEME FOR TRAINING SPORT AND RECREATION LEADERS.

THE TWO UNIVERSITIES IN HONG KONG ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE SCHEME BY OFFERING, JOINTLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT, RECREATION MANAGEMENT COURSES FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND EXPERIENCED RECREATION LEADERS.

MR YUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS AND RECREATION ON A LARGE SCALE INVOLVES EFFICIENT CO-ORDINATION AMONG DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

+ IN A CONGESTED ENVIRONMENT OF HONG KONG, A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO COMBINE RESOURS FOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES IS ESSENTIAL,✦ HE ADDED.