Blog
New development in Sports - Urban Sports
Last week, I had an unforgettable morning as I tried skateboarding for the first time in my life. Whenever I saw young people playing skateboards in the park and doing aerial tricks with a small board like martial arts masters leaping and flying into the air in a movie, I was always amazed. While admiring and marvelling at their outstanding skills, I had never thought of learning skateboarding at my age. However, under the patient and professional guidance of Chun (Luk Chun-yin), an elite athlete in skateboarding, and with the encouragement from some “seniors” who are more experienced in the sport than I was, I finally mustered the courage to challenge myself. This was truly an unforgettable experience and gave me the chance to make new friends who share a passion for skateboarding.
At the skateboard ground of the Kwun Tong Promenade that morning, I was faced with a daunting challenge of learning skateboarding but I believe that through perseverance and hard work, my efforts will come to fruition. The cheers from members of the public passing by that day also gave me crucial support and motivation. The crowd applauded and cheered when Chun and my “seniors” showed us their extraordinary skills. Despite their young age, the “seniors” excelled in skateboarding and one of them has even won a medal at an international competition. They shared with me that despite the fall and injury sustained during training, they never gave up and had continued to practice hard and learn new skills, thereby making breakthroughs.
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| I went to the Kwun Tong Promenade last week to try skateboarding for the first time in my life. |
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| Under the patient guidance of Chun and the encouragement from the “seniors”, I rose to the challenge! |
These emerging sports, be they in form of indoor or outdoor practice and performances, create a new dimension of physical exercise, self-challenge and individuality. They also allow members of the public and people in the neighbourhood to foster closer ties and alleviate the sense of “alienation” between busy people in a metropolis by providing them more opportunities for interaction, fun, competitionand amusement. Some urban sports such as 3-on-3 basketball, futsal, BMX freestyle, skateboarding, sport climbing and breaking have also been incorporated as official events at the Olympic Games or the Youth Olympic Games.
In my Budget Speech delivered in mid-February, I announced that resources would be earmarked to examine the conversion of some underutilised floors of the Kwun Chung Municipal Services Building into an indoor venue suitable for urban sports such as skateboarding and sport climbing. At the same time, we will explore ways to upgrade the basketball court in the nearby King George V Memorial Park, Kowloon. Together they would be turned into an urban sports centre encompassing both indoor and outdoor facilities. The technical feasibility study for the conversion is expected to be completed within this year and consultation will be conducted in accordance with the relevant procedures.
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| Demonstration by Chun, an elite athlete in skateboarding. |
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| The “seniors” excelled in skateboarding and one of them has even won a medal at an international competition. |
Providing well-equipped sports facilities is an integral part of sports development. At present, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has a number of urban sports-related venues, including 14 indoor and outdoor sport climbing facilities, eight skateboard grounds, five skateparks and over 120 5-a-side soccer pitches. In addition, we plan to enhance some existing facilities and provide bouldering walls and skateboarding facilities for promoting relevant urban sports.
Sports not only can help strengthen our physical fitness, it also improves our mental health and quality and fosters the connection between people in the society. The dauntless spirit and perseverance of athletes also helps boost morale and enhance social cohesion. Some international sports events also draw wide attention and attract a large number of fans abroad to come to Hong Kong every year, thereby bringing economic benefits to local tourism, retail, and catering industries.
We have been dedicated to the promotion and implementation of three policy objectives on sports development, namely, to support elite sports, promote sports in the community and maintain Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, through various measures including the allocation of resources for nurturing our elite athletes, supporting the expansion project of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and providing enhanced support to retired athletes for their post-athletic development. Meanwhile, we are also committed to promoting sports in the community and encouraging more people to participate in sports.
With the return to normalcy, it is the opportune time to promote economic recovery, we look forward to the return of many spectacular sports events to Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, Hong Kong Cyclothon, and the Hong Kong Sevens to be held later this month, etc. The Hong Kong Tourism Board has earmarked over $250 million this year to continue organising and assisting in the promotion of various large-scale tourism events including sports events. What is certain is that more joyful and exciting scenes will reappear in Hong Kong this year. Let us continue to liven up with sports in Hong Kong, magnificent events in Hong Kong and a Happy Hong Kong!
March 19, 2023
