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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Judo Association of Hong Kong, China together will launch the Joint Schools Judo Training Scheme next month to provide systematic and progressive training for Hong Kong's future sports elite.

The training will be tailor-made to suit individual students' abilities, helping them to meet specific targets in fitness and technique. Competition opportunities overseas and locally will complement the scheme.

Participants must be nominated by their schools or coaches and must pass the required skills tests.

Two hundred nominees from 100 primary and secondary schools took the skills tests today at Lei Yue Mun Sports Centre.

About 90 were selected, having met the required standards in physical fitness, body control, balance and basic judo techniques.

They will undergo six months' training starting in April at the Joint Schools Judo Training Centres in three LCSD venues: Long Ping Sports Centre in Yeun Long, Tai Po Sports Centre in Tai Po and Kwun Chung Sports Centre in Jordan.

Outstanding trainees will be recommended to join the Hong Kong Child Judo Squad to receive more advanced training.

Judo is one of the sports promoted under the Joint Schools Sports Training Programme of the Schools Sports Programme jointly organised by the LCSD and the Education and Manpower Bureau.

Since its launch last year, the Joint Schools Sports Training Programme has attracted more than 3,500 students to participate in progressive training in fencing, table tennis, squash, basketball and rowing.

In the year to come, the programme will introduce progressive training in gymnastics, windsurfing, canoeing, rugby, volleyball and athletics.

Ends/Saturday, March 27, 2004

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