ENG-2008 — Page 468

392 Recreation, Sport and the Arts

the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and planning for the redevelopment of the Institute.

Sporting Achievements

Hong Kong athletes achieved remarkable results in several international and regional sporting events in 2008. They won a total of 155 gold, 147 silver and 164 bronze medals'. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, Hong Kong athletes garnered five gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Hong Kong also won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the 2008 Bali Asian Beach Games, ranking 6th among the 27 participating countries and regions.

Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

The Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (SF&OC) of Hong Kong was founded in 1950 and recognised as a National Olympic Committee (NOC) in 1951. It changed its name to 'Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China' on March 8, 1999. The federation is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Council of Asia and the Association of National Olympic Committees and has been responsible for organising Hong Kong's participation in all major multi-sports games such as the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Indoor Games and East Asian Games. With a membership of 74 National Sports Associations (NSAs) and sports organisations, it represents the collective voice of the Hong Kong sports community.

Members of the federation are NSAs, which are in turn affiliated to their international federations (IFS) and Asian federations (AFS). They are empowered to co-ordinate and conduct a wide range of activities related to their sports, from organising sports and recreational programmes for beginners to training elite. athletes. They also organise and sanction participations in local and overseas competitions and tournaments, and train coaches and referees. NSAs implement and enforce local and international rules and regulations, and represent Hong Kong in meetings of the IFS and the AFs.

The federation has co-ordinated a four-month Festival of Sport for half a century. More than 70 of the festival's sporting activities were organised by over 60 NSAs to promote sport for all. It also organises extensive educational programmes for sports leaders, administrators, coaches and technical officials free of charge, notably through the Hong Kong Olympic Academy which offers free sports management and sport science courses and programmes.

With the support of sponsors, the federation organises the annual Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards, the 'Oscars' of local sport, to recognise the achievements of top athletes. The presentation of Bank of China Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards 2007 was held in conjunction with the federation's annual spring dinner in March

1 The number of medals is drawn from the records of Hong Kong Sports Institute, Sport Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled and Hong Kong Sports Association for the Mentally Handicapped in 2008.