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More than 170 sports enthusiasts are impressed by the brilliant presentations when attending The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) - The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Centre, Exchange Forum on Preparing Athletes for Major Games held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre last Saturday (30 May), following the Memorandum of Collaboration signed between the HKSI and five major sports institutes from the Mainland China the previous day.

Organised by the HKSI, co-organised by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and the HKJC Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Centre, the Forum aims to provide an unique opportunity for experts, academics and policy-makers from the Mainland China and Hong Kong to share their expertise, experience and insight in the preparation of athletes for Major Games. Sports professionals from the Beijing Olympic Preparation Office are also invited to share their successful experiences in the organisation and operation of the Beijing Olympic elite training system and scientific service support system.

Dr Eric Li, Chairman of the HKSI thanked the sincere support from different parties at the Opening Ceremony which made the Forum a success. "Through the Exchange Forum, we are delighted to learn from the sports institutes from the Mainland China on their experiences in preparing athletes for Major Games and in return, to provide our Mainland counterparts a clearer picture on the development of Hong Kong sport," he said.

There are four keynote presentations in the morning session including "The Organisation and Operation of the Beijing Olympic Elite Training System" by Li Dazheng, Deputy Director, Competition and Training Department, General Administration of Sport of China; "The Organisation and Operation of the Beijing Olympic Scientific Services Support System" by Zhang Tianbai, Deputy Director, Science and Education Department, General Administration of Sport of China; "Organisational Characteristics and Strategies for East Asian Games" by Johnny Woo, Chief Executive Officer, 2009 East Asian Games (Hong Kong) Limited; and "Sport Medicine - Marching Towards Higher... Faster... Stronger" by Professor Chan Kai-ming, Past President, International Federation of Sports Medicine.

The afternoon session consists of two parts. First moderated by Dr Patrick Yung, Deputy Director, HKJC Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Centre, five speakers include Professor Tian Ye, Director, China Institute of Sport Science; Professor Li Guoping, Director, National Institute of Sports Medicine; Professor Chi Jian, Deputy Principal, Beijing Sport University; Professor Sun Yiliang, Principal, Wuhan Institute of Physical Education; and Professor Chen Wei, Principal, Chengdu Sport University shared their valuable experiences on the Preparation for Beijing Olympic Games. The five China professors then joined an open forum which is co-hosted by Dr Bob Chen, Deputy Director, HKJC Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Centre and Dr Chung Pak-kwong, Head and Professor, Department of Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, to exchange views with the participants on various sports issues.

With the experience in nurturing many Olympic medalists and world-class athletes such as Zhang Yining, Liu Chunhong, Li Xiaopeng, Yang Wei, Cheng Fei and Li Shanshan, the speakers from the five major sports institutes shared how important the role of sports science and medicine services like sports biomechanics, altitude training, sports nutrition and sports psychology is in elite training nowadays.

In addition to the Signing Ceremony and Exchange Forum, the Mainland China Exchange Delegation with 14 members also paid visits to the HKSI temporary headquarters in Wu Kai Sha and headquarters in Fo Tan to understand the operation of the HKSI and latest progress of the HKSI redevelopment project. They also toured some 2009 East Asian Games venues including the Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground and the Tseung Kwan O Sports Centre during the 4-day trip in Hong Kong.