ENG-2011 — Page 490

418 | Recreation, Sport and the Arts

popular annual rugby tournament, 'Hong Kong Sevens', the Asian Football Confederation Cup match between South China (Hong Kong) and Persipura Jayapura (Indonesia) and the Barclays Asia Trophy 2011, an invitation football matches between Chelsea, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers from England and Kitchee from Hong Kong.

Mong Kok Stadium

The Mong Kok Stadium was closed for major redevelopment in September 2009. The redeveloped stadium, with an upgraded spectator stand offering 6 664 individual seats, was reopened for its first football match on October 16, 2011 after 24 months of redevelopment and for the official reopening ceremony on November 15, 2011. An international football friendly match between Hong Kong Youth Representative Team and Russian National Youth Team was held as part of the reopening ceremony, which attracted almost full house of spectators to witness the exciting match.

Water Sports Centres and Holiday Camps

The LCSD manages five water sports centres: Chong Hing, Tai Mei Tuk, Jockey Club Wong Shek, St Stephen's Beach and Stanley Main Beach. It also runs four holiday camps, the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village, Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre, Tso Kung Tam Outdoor Recreation Centre, and Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village. In 2011, over 128 000 people participated in events at the water sports centres and 546 720 visited or stayed at the holiday camps.

Other Sports and Recreational Venues

The LCSD manages 91 sports centres, 41 swimming pool complexes, 256 tennis courts, 290 squash courts, 25 sports grounds, four golf-driving ranges and two public riding schools.

Nine major projects for the provision of new recreation and sports facilities were completed in 2011. These include the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Swimming Pool, sports centres in Siu Sai Wan, Tseung Kwan O, Sheung Shui and Tin Shui Wai and open space sites in Sai Wan Ho, Wong Tai Sin, Tseung Kwan O and Fanling. Works for nine other major projects across Hong Kong are under way.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

Swimming is one of Hong Kong's most popular summer pastimes. The LCSD manages 41 beaches: 12 on Hong Kong Island and 29 in the New Territories, and 41 public swimming pool complexes. In 2011, some 11.25 million people used the beaches and 9.54 million visited public swimming pools. Lifeguard services are provided during the swimming season. Lifeguards are also on duty during the winter at the four most popular beaches, Deep Water Bay Beach, Golden Beach, Clear Water Bay Second Beach and Silverstrand Beach. Four beaches in Tsuen Wan, namely Lido Beach, Casam Beach, Approach Beach and Hoi Mei Wan Beach have been reopened for swimming from June 15, 2011 following improvement in water quality. Lifeguard services are provided at these beaches during the swimming season.