ENG-2001 — Page 493

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

gold medals were won by cyclists Ho Siu-lun and Wong Kam-po. The silver and bronze medals were won in windsurfing, athletics and tennis.

In the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games held in the US state of Alaska, Hong Kong athletes won 10 gold, nine silver and five bronze medals in the figure skating and speed skating events. In the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) World Games held in Nottingham, England, the HKSAR athlete So Wa-wai won three gold medals — in the men's 100, 200, and 400 metres events, and in the process set a world record in the 100 metres.

During the year, Hong Kong athletes also competed in the 6th World Games held in Akita, Japan, and the 21st World University Games held in Beijing.

The 9th National Games of the People's Republic of China

The 9th National Games of People's Republic of China were held from November 11 to 25. The Games, a nation-wide sporting event held every four years, attracted 8 608 athletes from 45 sports associations, municipalities and cities of China.

The LCSD assisted in forming an Organising Committee to prepare for the HKSAR Delegation's participation. The HKSAR's team of 364 athletes took part in 10 preliminary contests and 27 finals, and won a total of five medals (see Sporting Achievements above).

Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

The Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong was founded in 1949-50 and reorganised as a National Olympic Committee (NOC) in 1951. It changed to its present name of Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China with effect from March 8, 1999. The federation is a member of the International Olympic Committee, Olympic Council of Asia and the Association of National Olympic Committees and has been responsible for organising Hong Kong's participation in such major multi-sports games as the Olympic, Asian, East Asian, Pacific and National Games. With a membership of 72 National Sports Associations (NSAs), it represents the collective voice of the Hong Kong sports community. Office-bearers, elected biennially, include the President, eight Vice-Presidents, the Honorary Secretary General, a maximum of three Honorary Deputy Secretaries, and the Honorary Treasurer.

Members of the SF&OC are NSAs, which are in turn affiliated to their International Federations (IFs) and Asian Federations (AFs). They have the responsibility to develop and promote their specific sports and are managed by elected officers under either the limited company or registered society ordinances. They are empowered to co-ordinate and conduct a wide range of activities related to their sports, from organising sports and recreation programmes for beginners to training of elite athletes; organising and sanctioning participation in local and overseas competitions and tournaments and the training of coaches and referees. NSAS implement and enforce local and international rules and regulations, and they represent Hong Kong in meetings of the IFs and the AFs.

The elected officers of the SF&OC and the NSAs are volunteers of high standing and expertise in their respective fields of sport. They are also the cornerstones in safeguarding the autonomy of the NOC/NSAS and in assuring a high quality of sports and recreation in Hong Kong.

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