News

Elite Athletes' Beijing Exchange Tour Concluded

30 October 2008

The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) organised an exchange tour for over 20 elite athletes in Beijing right after the Olympics. Athletes were arranged to visit some sporting authorities and Olympic competition venues including the "Bird's Nest" ie. Beijing National Stadium. A group photo was taken with Dr Trisha Leahy (7^th from left, 2^nd row), Team Leader of the Delegation in front of the "Bird's Nest". Read More

Led by the Honorary Head of Delegation of the HKSI Exchange Tour, Professor Chan Kai-ming (7^th from left, 1^st row), over 20 elite athletes visited the Beijing Sports Medicine Hospital and took photo with its President Professor Li Guo-ping (8^th from left, 1^st row). Read More

Honorary Head of Delegation of the HKSI Exchange Tour, Professor Chan Kai-ming (2^nd from left), fencer Sabrina Lui (1^st from left) and bowling athlete Cheung Chun-chung (1^st from right) present a souvenir to Duan Shijie, Vice Director of the General Administration of Sport of China, during the visit. Read More

Professor Li Guo-ping (left), President of the Beijing Sports Medicine Hospital, is glad to receive a tailor-made souvenir from Professor Chan Kai-ming (right), Honorary Head of Delegation. Read More

Valuable exchange with important sporting officials of the General Administration of Sport of China, including Duan Shijie (4^th from right), Vice Director ; Jiang Zhixue (3^rd from right), Chairman of Science and Education Department; and Song Keqin (2^nd from right), Deputy Director of External Affairs Department. Read More

The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) 2008 Beijing Exchange Tour was successfully held from 25 to 29 October 2008 with 26 elite athletes from Olympic, Paralympic and Asian Games sports, as well as representatives of the HKSI and the Publicity, Culture and Sports Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR.

During the five-day tour, the Delegation visited eight sport-related facilities in Beijing. Dr Trisha Leahy, Team Leader of the Delegation and Chief Executive of the HKSI, expressed her appreciation to the Publicity, Culture and Sports Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR and the China International Sports Exchange Centre for arranging such a wonderful exchange tour for both athletes and sporting professionals in Hong Kong. "This experience has been one of growth and development for athletes and staff alike. The unique opportunity to learn first-hand about possibly the most successful Olympics ever held, has motivated us all to increase our efforts to strive for sports excellence for Hong Kong," said Dr Leahy.

Rower Law Hiu-fung, was very pleased to have joined the Tour, which has enhanced his understanding on the development of the China elite sports system. He said, "I was most impressed by the state-of-the-art international sporting facilities. When visiting the National Sports Training Centre, I was moved by the cooperation and commitment of the coach and athlete who were undergoing one-to-one training. Other athletes are highly recommended to join the Tour in the future."

Squash athlete Mak Pui-hin expressed that the Tour has not only expanded her horizon, but has also enriched her knowledge in the history and culture of our motherland. "I really appreciate that we were able to visit the National Sports Training Centre where we saw the elite athletes training and sporting facilities in China. Moreover, the athletes' sharing sessions held every evening were fruitful and beneficial to all the participating athletes," said Mak.

The Exchange Tour is part of the Enhanced Athletes Educational and Vocational Development Programme of the HKSI funded by the Government. The programme aims to provide athletes with an integrated support system to enhance their personal growth and development as elite athletes. The HKSI will continue to explore further opportunities to support and enhance elite athletes' educational, personal and social development and in particular to enhance national education and knowledge of sports system and infrastructure in the Mainland.