ENG-1996 — Page 464

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

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secondary schools have become involved and more than 50 celebrities have accepted a role as programme ambassadors.

Through providing regular practice opportunities and frequent competition to those interested in sports, the Community Sports Clubs Programme had established 60 clubs in 1995–96 in 14 sports and had attracted some 3 000 people to enrol in the clubs.

The Sports Aid Foundation Fund and the Sports Aid for the Disabled Fund, administered by the board, distributed a total of $3.2 million to 32 elite, 26 potential and 31 disabled athletes in 1995-96 to help with their training and competing expenses. The cash incentives introduced in 1994 for the Asian Games were extended to cover the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian and World Universiade in 1996. The sum of $1 million was offered as an incentive to gold medallists in the Atlanta Olympics. The board has also been active in securing additional funds from the commercial sector in support of development programmes organised by the NSAs. Since the inception of the Sports Sponsorship Advisory Service in 1991, it has generated more than $62 million in sponsorship support.

Amalgamated with the Sports Development Board since April 1994, the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) provided support to 20 sports at four levels in 1995-96, with a sharp focus on high performance. A total of 263 athletes were granted HKSI scholarships. Support provided by the institute including coaching, sports science and medicine, athlete education and career development. This played a significant role in helping to produce some excellent results in 1995–96.

In 1995-96 the Sport Development Board published its second Strategic Plan for sport, covering the period from 1996-2000. The planning process started in July 1994, when various agencies in sport were asked to determine the priority areas for consideration, and took 15 months to complete, including a period of public consultation.

Sporting Achievements

Hong Kong athletes took part in many international competitions in 1996. Windsurfer Lee Lai-shan won a gold medal, Hong Kong's first Olympic Games medal, in the Women's Mistral Class (boardsailing) event. Earlier, she won a silver medal in the ladies' open event at the 1996 International Mistral Class World Championships and topped the women's overall world rankings set by the International Yacht Racing Union.

Disabled fencer Ben Cheung Wai-leung won an unprecedented four gold medals at the Paralympics, held in Atlanta, USA, immediately after the Olympics.

Hong Kong swimmers took one silver and nine bronze medals in the Swimming World Cup Hong Kong 1996, while the territory's orienteering, rowing, shooting, squash and taekwondo athletes won a total of 21 gold, 26 silver and 27 bronze medals at their respective Asian Championships in 1996.

Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong

The Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong was founded in 1949/50 and recognised as a National Organising Committee in 1951. It has been responsible for organising Hong Kong participation in major events such as the