ENG-2010 — Page 485

Recreation, Sport and the Arts | 407

won Hong Kong's first equestrian medal, a bronze, in the team jumping event at the Games.

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races held at the Sha Tin Racecourse each December have become widely recognised as the Turf World Championships, with four International Group One events being staged on a single. day for a total purse of $64 million. The 2010 International Races attracted 28 top thoroughbreds from 10 countries, with honours shared evenly by South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Britain.

In 2010, a record 19 locally-trained horses were listed in the World Thoroughbred Rankings, placing Hong Kong sixth among the 15 countries and regions listed. Several of the horses won major races overseas during 2010, notably Ultra Fantasy whose victory in the Sprinters Stakes in Japan marked the first time an international race was won by an all-Hong Kong team, comprising trainer Ricky Yiu and jockey Alex Lai.

Recreational and Sports Programmes

In 2010, the LCSD organised some 36 500 recreational and sports programmes for about two million participants of all ages and abilities at a total cost of $124.02 million.

District Sports Teams Training Scheme

To generate greater community interest in sports and to foster a stronger sense of belonging among residents, the LCSD, in collaboration with the respective NSAs, formed basketball, football, handball and fencing teams in 18 districts. About 13 170 young people took part in 254 events organised in 2010.

'Healthy Exercise for All' Campaign

The LCSD and the Department of Health continued to co-organise the 'Healthy Exercise for All' campaign. A variety of promotional activities including a series of roving exhibitions at shopping malls, private residential club houses, schools, centres for youth and for the elderly, LCSD sports centres, public libraries, holidays camps and parks were organised to drive home the message that people of all ages should do daily exercise to stay healthy. Fitness programmes were drawn up for different target groups. The campaign also included hiking and QualiWalk (walking exercise), dancing and rope-skipping programmes. In 2010, about 82 000 people took part in some 1 400 programmes of this kind.

'Sport For All Day'

To support National Fitness Day and to promote 'sport for all' in the community, the LCSD organised a 'Sport For All Day' on August 8, 2010. A series of free-of- charge programmes were organised at designated sports centres in 18 districts, and most of the sports facilities were open to the public free of charge. Over 190 000 people participated in the 'Sport For All Day'.