ENG-2003 — Page 499

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

participants. Seminars and management development programmes were organised for 568 sports volunteers with a view to improving the administration of the clubs.

Sports Subsidy Scheme

The LCSD continued to run the Sports Subsidy Scheme, which provides financial assistance to sports associations for organising sports events, training programmes and competitions. In 2003, the department spent $38.4 million on 5 524 sports programmes which attracted over 537 000 participants. Among the most popular programmes were the Youth Football Scheme, New Generation Table Tennis Training Courses, Youth Windsurfing Promotion Scheme and Youth Wushu Training Scheme. During the year, the National Sports Associations concerned were given subsidies. under the scheme to organise the World Hong Kong Luminous Dragon Dance and Lion Dance Championships and the Asian School Volleyball (Boys) Championships.

Economic Relaunch Campaign

In order to revitalise the economy post-SARS, the LCSD and the National Sports Associations concerned joined hands to organise top-class spectacular sports events, including the International Super Stars Diving and Synchronised Swimming Extravaganza, Hong Kong International Basketball Challenge, Real Madrid Asia Tour 2003 - Hong Kong, Euro-Asia Snooker Masters Challenge, International Volleyball Challenge, Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships, Around the Island Race in yachting, World Women's Open in squash, Women's Table Tennis World Cup and the Hong Kong Open in golf. These events strengthened Hong Kong's position as a major sports events capital in Asia and promoted its global exposure.

Sports and Recreational Venues

Hong Kong Stadium

This is Hong Kong's largest sports venue with 40 000 seats. The stadium is used mainly for football and international rugby matches, while large-scale religious gatherings and fund-raising events for charity are also held. In total, 504 000 spectators attended 37 events at the venue in 2003.

Water Sports and Holiday Camps

The LCSD manages four water sports centres (Chong Hing, Tai Mei Tuk, the Jockey Club Wong Shek and St Stephen's Beach) and four holiday camps (Lady MacLehose Holiday Village, Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre, Tso Kung Tam Outdoor Recreation Centre, and Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village). During the year, 86 500 people participated in water sports programmes held at the water sports centres and 382 890 enjoyed the facilities at the holiday camps. To allow more people at work to enjoy camping facilities after office hours, the department provided 'Evening Camp' programmes for 20 730 people in 2003.

Other Sports and Recreational Venues

The LCSD manages 83 sports centres, 36 swimming pool complexes, 268 tennis courts, 323 squash courts, 24 sports grounds, four golf driving ranges and two public riding schools.

Three new recreation and sport venues and one improvement projects were completed in 2003: Local Open Space in Area 44 Tuen Mun, Jordan Valley

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