ENG-2014 — Page 374

19

Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts

Recreation and Sports Organisations

Hong Kong Sports Institute Limited

The Hong Kong Sports Institute Limited seeks to provide an environment in which sports talent can be identified, nurtured and developed. Besides access to high quality sports facilities, the support given to athletes includes coaching and training, sports science and sports medicine, education and employment support. In 2014, athletes in 16 'Tier A'sports (athletics, badminton, billiard sports, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, karatedo, rowing, rugby sevens, squash, swimming, table tennis, tenpin bowling, triathlon, windsurfing and wushu) received dedicated support under the institute's 'Elite Training Programme. The institute also supports athletes in 10 'Tier B' sports (dance sports, equestrian, judo, lawn bowls, mountaineering, orienteering, roller sports, sailing, skating and tennis) as well as outstanding athletes under the Individual Athletes Support Scheme and the Disabled Sports Elite Training Programme.

The institute's $1.8 billion redevelopment was completed in 2014, providing new, state-of-the- art facilities for training high-performance athletes. The $7 billion Elite Athletes Development Fund established in 2012 provides a sustainable long-term source of financial support for the institute's operation.

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. At the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, the Hong Kong, China team won a record 42 medals (6 gold, 12 silver and 24 bronze medals), ranking in the top 10 of the 45 Asian teams.

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.

The federation's 'Hong Kong Athletes Career and Education Programme' 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.

310