ENG-2012 — Page 406

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Recreation, Sport and the Arts

Athletes with disabilities also performed outstandingly at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, winning a total of three gold, three silver and six bronze medals in athletics, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair fencing.

Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

The Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) is recognised as a National Olympic Committee (NOC) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is a member of the IOC, the Olympic Council of Asia, the Association of National Olympic Committee and the East Asian Games Association and is responsible for organising Hong Kong's participation in all major international multi-sports games such as the Olympic Games. (Summer and Winter), Asian Games (Summer and Winter), and East Asian Games. Lee Wai-sze, representing 'Hong Kong, China, won the third ever Olympic medal for Hong Kong in the London 2012 Olympic Games Cycling Women's Keirin.

With a membership of 75 National Sports Associations (NSAs) and sports organisations, the federation represents the collective voice of the Hong Kong sports community. Most of the members of the federation are NSAs, which are in turn affiliated to their Asian federations (AFs) and international federations (IFs). They are empowered to co-ordinate and conduct a wide range of activities related to their sports, ranging from recreational programmes for beginners to training elite athletes. They also organise and sanction participation in overseas multi-sports competitions and train coaches and referees. The NSAs implement and enforce local and international rules and regulations and represent Hong Kong at meetings of the IFs and the AFS. The federation co-ordinates a four-month 'Festival of Sport' each year, which includes more than 80 sporting activities 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.

In 2008, the federation launched the 'Hong Kong Athletes Career and Education Programme, a scheme which provides financial support from the Government and commercial sponsors for Hong Kong athletes to obtain an education and a career after retiring from athletic life. More than 237 athletes from 41 NSAs have received support from the scheme in the past three years.

The Hong Kong Anti-Doping Committee, established as an independent working group, under the auspices of the federation, continued to maintain a doping-free environment for fair play in sports in Hong Kong, and is responsible for planning and implementing an anti-doping programme.

Each year, with the support of sponsors, the federation organises the Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards, the 'Oscars' of local sport, to recognise the achievements of top athletes. The presentation of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Sports Stars Awards 2011 was held in conjunction with the federation's annual spring dinner in February. Cyclist Kwok Ho-ting was awarded the most coveted Bank of China (Hong Kong) Best of Best Hong Kong Sports Star.

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