From the Editor

 

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is committed to promoting the development of National Sports Associations (NSAs) in Hong Kong, while increasing their corporate governance effectiveness. The Department organises from time to time foundation and advanced training courses for sports practitioners to enhance professional skills. Graduation ceremonies and sharing sessions for graduates are also held to promote exchange and sharing of operational experiences and ideas for better industry networking. The graduation ceremony of the advanced course on management development programme of community sports club for 2023/24 cum sharing session was held early this year. Its content is now summarised in the “Featured Report” for our readers.

In the “Portraits of National Sports Association” this time, we introduced the Hong Kong China Canoe Union (the Union). Established in 1973, the Union has had a long history. Canoeing requires relatively simple equipment: just a canoe and a paddle. Once mastering basic skills under guidance from coaches, new participants can venture into canoeing. However, competing in formal canoeing competitions is easier said than done. Canoeing, not a wind sport, entirely relies on the players’ physical strength and movements, while heavily influenced by external factors such as water currents and weather, putting players’ physical fitness and resilience to test in each training session and competition. The development of canoeing in Hong Kong is by no means plain sailing. Thanks to the unwavering enthusiasm for canoeing of all the members of the Union, the public’s understanding of and interest in the sport have been augmented through its active promotion in the city.

Despite its subdued popularity in Hong Kong, baseball has been promoted as a sport for all, with the relentless efforts made by avid baseball fans. In the “Sports Hero” in this issue, we interviewed Cheng Hoi-ting, a member of the Hong Kong, China Men’s Baseball Squad. Having played baseball since the age of six, Cheng has fostered an inseparable bond with the sport since then. Suffering injuries in his baseball career, Cheng was once almost forced to withdraw from a game due to a fractured metacarpal injury. Still, he did not give up playing baseball. In the interview, Cheng shared with us the joy and tears of his baseball journey.

Flying disc, a common beach game of throwing and catching a disc, is perfect for parent-child bonding. As a matter of fact, it has evolved into a professional competitive sport with established rules. Hong Kong has its flying disc squad which regularly participates in major flying disc tournaments around the world. The Flying Disc Federation of Hong Kong, China frequently organises training courses and experience sessions to promote the development of the sport in Hong Kong. Readers may take a look at “Sports Recommendation” in this issue to learn more about this highly interesting sport.

In this issue, “New Stars” introduces two Taekwondo elites, Lam Siu-wai, a member of the Hong Kong, China Taekwondo Squad, and Chan Chung-yin, a member of the Hong Kong, China Taekwondo Association’s Poomsae Team. Lam was proactive to participate in all levels of competitions across Asia, setting her sights on the 2026 Asian Games; while Chan, as an elite athlete at the Hong Kong Sports Institute being included in the Hong Kong squad at a young age, has been competing in various major events, with his short-term goal of competing in the World Championships at the end of this year. Despite their different sporting career paths, both share an unrelenting passion for Taekwondo.

The LCSD has established the “Sports Subvention Scheme – National Sports Associations Outstanding Staff Award” in recognition of the outstanding staff of the subvented NSAs. The list of awardees was announced during the “Annual Briefing for National Sports Association” held early this year. These are detailed in the “Sports Kaleidoscope” in this issue.

The 9th Hong Kong Games was successfully concluded following the Closing cum Award Presentation Ceremony held last month, where multiple awards in various competitions were eventually presented. For highlights of the ceremony, please refer to the “Latest News on Recreation and Sports” in this issue.