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The brilliant performance of Hong Kong delegation gained in the 11^th National Games and the 5^th East Asian Games (EAG) has indicated proven success on local elite sports development. To ride on this EAG fad, the annual Hongkong Bank Foundation Elite Coaches Seminar had adopted "Winning Systems for Elite Coaching" as the topic this year. The seminar was held on 23-24 January 2010 at the Olympic House, CausewayBay, and has successfully attracted over 180 local and Mainland China coaches to attend.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Dr James Lam, representative of the Hong Kong Coaching Committee (HKCC) and Jiang Zhixue, General Director of the Science and Education Department of the General Administration of Sport of China. Dr Lam, said at the opening ceremony, "Thanks to the long-term support from the All-China Sports Federation, which enabled us to invite renowned speakers from Mainland China to share their expertise and views with local and Mainland China coaches. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Hongkong Bank Foundation, for their generous support to Hong Kong coach education, which facilitates exchanges and levels up the standard of local coaches."

Jiang Zhixue is delighted to see that more coaches and participants coming from different backgrounds are taking part in the Seminar. Mr Jiang said, "The content of the Seminar is having a greater variety. It has also become an international seminar for coaches in the Asian region, which greatly helps promote the coach education work."

Nine professionals coming from Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong gave out presentations on respective expert areas between 23 and 24 January. Robert P Gambardella, Chief for Sports Development Group and Singapore Sports Institute, Singapore Sports Council, shared his insights on best practice high performance systems and an integrated approach to developing athletes, coaches and National Sports Associations across the development pathway through the topic "Successful Elite Training System". Gambardella had previously worked as a senior executive member of the US Olympic Committee and instrumental in elite sport systems evaluation and delivery.

Jiang Zhixue, General Director of the Science and Education Department of the General Administration of Sport of China, elaborated how the elite training system incorporating scientific support makes China a leading nation in sport through the topic "China's Elite Training System and Scientific Support". Mr Jiang is responsible for the development of Science, Education and Anti-Doping Control in China.

Li Xiaodong, Coach of the China National Table Tennis Team, spoke on the topic "Support to Elite Athlete Training". Coach Li is a renowned professional and has coached the China National Table Tennis Team for 20 years, supervising a number of well-known athletes such as Liu Guoliang, Wang Tao, Wang Nan and Wang Liqin. He also led the China men's table tennis team to win the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Yu Weili, Former Deputy Coach of the China National Athletics Team, elaborated the topic "Effective Management and Training Tips for Athletics", which covered some training tips in relay events and his experience in managing the National Athletics Team. After winning a silver medal in the 4x100M relay at the 7^th Asian Games in 1974, Coach Yu began his coaching career and has been managing the China National Athletics Team for 30 years.

Zhang Shuangxi, Former Head Sabre Coach of the China National Fencing Team, exchanged with the participants how to maximise the resources to train up elite athletes through the topic "Talent Identification and Training Elite Fencing Athletes". Coach Zhang is the coach who introduced Zhong Man, the gold medallist in the individual sabre event at the 2008 Olympic Games. He has trained Zhong for ten years since 1997 and thus built up a good foundation for Zhong's success.

Dr Julian W Chang, Hon. Medical Advisor of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and Chairman of the Medical Committee of the East Asian Games Association, has shared his experience on "Medical Support in preparation for Major Games" and gave advice to coaches on what to be aware of in planning for important competitions. With extensive expertise and experience in Major Games, Dr Chang was also the Chief Medical Officer for the Hong Kong Delegation at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

Kim Pan-gon, Head Coach of the Hong Kong Football Team and manager of the South China Athletics Association Football Team, led the Hong Kong Football Team to their historic gold medal in the Hong Kong 2009 EAG. Coach Kim shared with the audience the preparation, challenges and winning factors in training the Hong Kong team from the perspective of the Head Coach on the topic "Road to Success – Hong Kong Football ".

Dr Trisha Leahy, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), spoke on the topic "Elite Training System in Hong Kong". Targeting all aspects of athlete's medical, physiological, psychological, social support and welfare needs, Hong Kong's elite training system is underpinned by a biopsychosocial model. Dr Leahy explained how this model informs the key elements of Hong Kong's elite training system.

Dr Si Gangyan, Sport Psychologist of the HKSI, highlighted how sports psychology has become a core component within the elite training system and how it can enhance athletes' performance at Major Games through the topic "Development of Psychological Support for Hong Kong Athletes in Major Games". Dr Si has been a Sport Psychologist at the HKSI and he has also been supporting the Hong Kong elite athletes for over ten years. He is also the Secretary General of the International Society of Sport Psychology and a consultant to the All-China Sports Federation for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Prof Chung Pak-kwong, Head and Professor of the Department of Physical Education of the Hong KongBaptistUniversity, was also invited to be the moderator of the open forum on 24 January. The topic of the forum was "The Role of Coaches in the Winning Systems" which had also aroused constructive discussions among audience.

Jointly organised by the HKCC and the All-China Sports Federation with the funding from the Hongkong Bank Foundation, the annual Seminar aims to provide a platform for overseas experts (especially those from Mainland China) and local coaching professionals to exchange ideas.

The Hong Kong Coach Education Programme has been funded by the HBF with a total commitment of more than HK$21 million since 1992. Throughout the years, over 20,000 coaches have been benefited from the training and recognition programmes in the Programme.