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Sports and Recreation

All Hong Kong people should love, value and play sports, says Jockey Club
21/04/2016

Playing sports should not just be for professional athletes or the more active young adults.  Everyone from kindergarten children to teenagers, working adults and elderly retirees can participate.  This can not only improve community health but also promote social and psychological benefits - building character and self-esteem, creating social ties and maintaining community spirit.

To encourage citizens to take up sports and exercise and make them part of their daily lives, the Club’s Charities Trust is drawing on the inspiration and expertise of its community partners to combine sports with crossover activities and make them fun, interesting, and rewarding.  At this year’s Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day, the Trust announced details of the Club’s Sports for All initiative, featuring five programmes designed with unique innovative crossover elements to motivate individuals of all ages and abilities to make sports and exercise a part of their everyday life. Approximately HK$155 million has been earmarked to support these five programmes, which are expected to benefit over 240,000 people.

A notable example is the Jockey Club Learn-to-Swim Programme for Primary Students is an 18-month long programme targeting around 16,500 non-swimming Hong Kong Primary One pupils. The objective is to provide them with sufficient basic training to learn survival skills and become confident regular swimmers. Twenty hours of free swimming courses will be provided by members of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association. The Trust’s funding will also cover a swimming gear set for each participant including swimming suit and cap, so parents will not need to worry about any extra expense.  To create a stronger motivation for the participants, an environmental and marine conservation education programme in partnership with Ocean Park will also be provided, where children can meet with marine animal like dolphin and learn more about marine life conservation.

The first phase of swimming class will commence in August and be open to public enrolment, with priority given to less-privileged Primary One students.  An evidence-based evaluation will be conducted by The University of Hong Kong’s Institute of Human Performance to assess its impact and better understand the abilities and sports experience of Hong Kong’s primary school children in swimming.

The programme follows on the launch of two other sporting initiatives targeting different segments of the community. In December, the Trust launched a three-year pilot project called the Jockey Club Keep-Fit Formula for Children, aimed at kindergarten and primary school children. This is the first protocol for the physical fitness development of children in Hong Kong and is designed to help teachers integrate fun physical activities into different subjects in the classroom.

Meanwhile in February, the HKFYG Jockey Club Community Team Sports programme provides a new team sports experience for young people aged 8 to 25. This citywide programme covers five selected team sports, namely team running, basketball, ice hockey, canoeing and rope-skipping, as well as crossover activities blending sports with community services.

Looking ahead, two more innovative Sports for All projects are due to be announced: a crossover project for young people and adults combining street sports with local community activities; and another crossover event, “Sports Entertainment Programme for the Young Old and Elderly”, organised by St James’ Settlement. These projects will blend sports training, volunteer work, entertainment and artistic production. 

The Club believes that sports can bring positive values to the community.  It has long supported the building of sporting infrastructure, sporting culture promotion and the professional development of Hong Kong athletes.  In the last decade the Club has contributed over HK$1.6 billion to sports development, with some HK$210 million donated this year to date.  This includes providing comprehensive training and support to recognise the efforts of elite athletes and coaches.