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Zhang Yadong, Deputing Chief Coach of the China National Swimming Team as well as the coach of Luo Xuejuan, the 2004 Athens Olympic gold medallist in the 100 metre breaststroke, will attend the 1st International Council for Coach Education Asian Regional Coaching Conference to be held from 25 to 27 February in Hong Kong, where he will share the success behind the medals with the participants.

The three-day Conference is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Coaching Committee and the International Council for Coach Education. With the theme of "Development of Sports Coaching in Asia: Trend and Challenge", the Conference will study the topics related to sports training, physiology, psychology and management, etc.

Comprising over 40 keynote presentations, invited lectures and poster presentations, the Conference has invited renowned sports professionals and elite coaches from the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Qatar, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong to share their valuable experience in sports coaching. Being the first of its kind to be staged in the Asian region, the Conference provides an international forum for sports professionals, elite coaches and athletes to exchange views and insights on enhancing the quality of sports training in the region.

Coached by Zhang Yadong and having been trained at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) through exchange programmes, the Olympic medallist Luo Xuejuan visited HKSI in early February. Luo was grateful to Coach Zhang for his meticulous care and guidance which was her key to success. Under the coaching support of Zhang for eight years, Luo had established a close relationship with Zhang regarding him as her parent, friend and partner. They had a good understanding to each other and worked towards the same direction and goal. These had enabled her to perform the best at training and competitions.

Any interested parties who would like to learn about the experience of how Zhang trained up Olympic Games medallists like Luo may consider to take part in the first-ever Conference to be staged in Hong Kong from 25 to 27 February. At the Conference, Zhang would further share the "Olympic Success: Behind the Scene" with three Hong Kong Olympic coaches, namely Rene Appel, Hui Jun and Chan Kong-wah.

Rene Appel, the Head Windsurfing Coach of Hong Kong China Team, assisted Lee Lai-shan in lifting the first-ever Olympic gold medal for Hong Kong in 1996. Hui Jun and Chan Kong-wah are respectively the Head Table Tennis Coach and Table Tennis Coach (Men's Doubles) of Hong Kong China Team. The coaching team has helped Ko Lai-chak and Li Ching in snatching a silver medal in the men's doubles at the Athens Olympic Games, the first Olympic medal for Hong Kong since its re-unification with China.

The Conference is now open for registration with the closing date for enrollment on 17 February. Local coaches, sports practitioners, students and interested parties are welcome to join. For enrollment or more details about the Conference, please contact the Conference Secretariat at (852) 2681 6289 or ICCE-ARCC@hksi.org.hk.