One of the Board's most significant community programmes has been the Hongkong Telecom Go! Sports Programme which was launched in 1993. With the full support of the Education Department, major sponsors and two School Sports Associations, it has already reached 40% of Hong Kong schools and promises to be one of the most comprehensive and exciting junior sports programmes yet introduced in the territory.
The Hong Kong Sports Institute is predominantly involved, in accordance with its mandate, in providing an environment in which athletic talent can be identified, nurtured and developed. This aim implies the pursuit of excellence by athletes and coaches. In 1994, Hong Kong's teams won a total of 19 gold, 25 silver and 28 bronze medals at the year's Asian, Commonwealth and FESPIC Games. The Institute played a significant role in helping to produce these results through its coaching effort, and support from its sports medicine and sports science staff.
The Coach Education Programmes administered by the Institute, working with the National Sports Associations have continued to develop with 35 Associations participating. More than 3,900 coaches attended sports theory courses and over 450 coaches attended 7 seminars.
A good deal has been done in forging technical links between the Institute and China. A total of 23 coaches were given financial support to attend coach education programmes there and in other countries. Strong working links have also been developed at a technical level with various institutes and organisations in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and China.
An important new initiative was launched in athlete education, appreciating the need for the Institute to do more to keep athletes in the programme. Increased resources were made available to prepare athletes for a life after their sporting careers are over. More assistance has been given in providing educational training and in creating career opportunities for athletes. These important support services will be expanded upon in the next financial year.
All in all, it has been a successful first year for the new integrated body which must continue to provide the leadership to take sports development forward. The second Strategic Plan provides the vehicle for this and I look forward to consulting Members of this Council on that Plan in the near future.
End/Wednesday, October 18, 1995
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