From the Editor

Sexual harassment causes negative impacts on any organisations, and national sports associations (NSAs) should therefore formulate policies against such acts.  To this end, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) held the “Forum on Making Policy on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Sports Sector”, inviting stakeholders to take part in discussion, in a bid to raise the NSAs’ awareness of the issues, help them formulate policies and devise guidelines in protection of members of the sports sector.  Valuable opinions were shared by those attending the seminar, which is summarised in the “Featured Report” for readers’ perusal.

 

The Gymnastics Association of Hong Kong, China (the Association), formerly the Hong Kong Amateur Gymnastics Association, was established in 2003.  Thanks to years of hard work, gymnastics has since then become one of the “Tier-A” high performance sports at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), while Hong Kong gymnastics athletes have risen to international prominence.  These were all hard-won victories.  In the “Portraits of National Sports Association” this time, we shed light on the past development and way forward for the Association.

 

Wong Ho-yin, a former member of the Hong Kong fencing team, has represented Hong Kong in various international competitions, and is now retired from his playing career and becomes a fencing coach.  Such changes bring new challenges, for which he has no alternatives but to adjust his mentality and way of thinking accordingly.  Ho-yin is delighted to see that since Cheung Ka-long won a historic Olympic gold medal in the foil event, fencing has drawn huge attention in Hong Kong.  He hopes that the sport will be made more accessible to members of the public.  In the “Sports Hero” in this issue, Ho-yin shared with us the ebbs and flows of his passion in fencing.

 

We highlighted wingfoiling in the “Sports Recommendation” this time.  A relatively new water sport, wingfoiling originated in the United States, but it was not until 2018 that the sport was introduced into Hong Kong.  When taking part in this sport, surfers glide above the water surface with use of a windsurfing board and a wing, which requires a very high level of physical fitness and skilful use of techniques.  Those wishing to know more about that may read the introduction in this issue.

 

To celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the LCSD held the Roving Sports Demonstrations For All at various malls and performance venues during four Saturdays in June and July to promote four sports, namely dance, wushu, physical fitness exercise and rope skipping to the public.  We will give a brief account of the event in the “Sports Kaleidoscope” in this issue.

 

Coming across squash since a very young age, Kwong Ena has played the sport for eight years.  She has received training at the HKSI and has participated in various competitions in few years.  Despite injuries and occasional frustration, her fighting spirit remained undiminished.  She has since aspired to become a top squash player one day.  In the “New Stars” in this issue, Ena shared with us on how she has gone from strength to strength.

 

Two new sports centres under the management of the LCSD, namely Tung Cheong Street Sports Centre and Sham Shui Po Sports Centre, were put into service last year, thereby providing the local residents with a wide range of recreational and sports facilities.  In addition, the Corporate Games, a major sports event for employees from the public and private sectors, will be held soon.  Only few places are left available for enrolment, and those interested should act fast.  On another front, the LCSD is refining the video clips under “Hiking Scheme”, with a view to promoting hiking.  Please note the “Latest News on Recreation and Sports” for details.