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In support of National Fitness Day and to further promote "Sport for All" in the community, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise Sport For All Day on August 8. The LCSD will open its various fee-charging leisure facilities for free use by the public and organise a series of free programmes at designated sports centres in 18 districts throughout the territory to disseminate the message that people should exercise regularly.
Speaking at the press conference on Sport For All Day at Kowloon Park today (July 2), the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, said one of the objectives of the Government's "Sport for All" policy was to encourage members of the public to participate in physical activities.
Mr Tsang pointed out that the Government had all along been actively promoting "Sport for All" by providing sports programmes in the community through various channels. The LCSD provided some ten thousand physical activities for millions of people to participate in every year and also sponsored the National Sports Associations and sports organisations to organise sports training and activities at different levels.
"I am so delighted that all the 18 District Councils have rendered their great support to Sport For All Day. Each district has appointed two sports ambassadors to assist in promoting sports at district level. We will officially appoint the ambassadors at the August 8 event," Mr Tsang said.
He added that the Government would continue to further promote sports through various channels and to encourage people to exercise more. He also called on the public to take part in physical activities and support Sport for All Day.
Various activities will be provided at designated sports centres in the 18 districts on August 8, including dance, talks and assessments relating to sports and health, parent-child sports programmes and sports activities with district characteristics.
Another highlight of Sport For All Day is free access to a variety of the LCSD's fee-charging leisure facilities on that day.
The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung, announced the details of Sport For All Day at the press conference. She said she hoped that by providing free activities and free use of leisure facilities, those people not participating in physical activities would be encouraged to do more exercise and thereby foster the habit of engaging in sport or other physical activities every day.
Mrs Fung enlisted all members of the public to support Sport For All Day, saying that the LCSD would write to encourage the 18 District Councils, National Sports Associations, community sports organisations as well as private sports groups and sports centres to arrange free activities for the public on the event day to let the whole community to exercise together.
A ceremony to launch Sport For All Day will be held at 3pm on August 8 at the Kowloon Park Sports Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, while similar ceremonies would also be held at other designated sports centres in various districts. There will be sessions for retired Chinese Olympic Games gold medal winners, along with Hong Kong elite athletes, to share with people their sports experiences. A dance lasting three minutes will be staged by people from the 18 districts to make Sport For All Day more joyful.
The LCSD will organise a series of free programmes in designated sports centres in 18 districts from 10am to 7pm on August 8. For programme highlights held between 2pm and 6pm, enrolment can be made at the District Leisure Services Offices of the LCSD or designated venues in districts starting from 8.30am on July 15 on a first-come-first-served basis.
The following leisure facilities run by LCSD will also be open to the public for free use on that day:
*indoor leisure facilities, including badminton courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, netball courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, billiard tables, sport climbing walls, bowling greens, golf facilities, fitness rooms, activity rooms and dance rooms
*outdoor leisure facilities covering tennis courts, bowling greens, batting cages, rope courses, sport climbing walls, archery ranges and golf facilities
*public swimming pools (except for Wan Chai Swimming Pool and Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool)
*crafts at Water Sports Centres
Camping facilities, sports grounds and turf pitches will not be included in the free use scheme.
Booking for leisure facilities which have not been block-booked by organisations on August 8 can be made at all Leisure Link booking counters at LCSD venues from 10am on August 1 on a first-come-first-served basis. Each person may book only one session at the leisure facilities irrespective of the types.
Information about the Leisure Link booking counters and the sports centres designated for free activities have been uploaded onto the homepage dedicated to Sport For All Day at www.lcsd.gov.hk/specials/sfad/en/index.php .
No prior booking is required for free admission to the LCSD's swimming pools. Those interested should line up at the entrance to the swimming pools before the opening hours on August 8.
Speaking at the press conference today, the Chairman of the Community Sports Committee, Mr Chau How-chen, said Sport For All Day would be a further step in the implementation of the Sport for All policy. He called on the public to actively participate in sports activities and the events on Sport For All Day, working together towards the aim of Sport for All.
A publicity video calling on people to take part in Sport For All Day and to exercise regularly was premiered at the press conference and will be broadcast from today (July 2).
Details about Sport For All Day is available at the dedicated homepage: www.lcsd.gov.hk/specials/sfad/en/index.php .
Sport For All Day is co-organised with the Department of Health, Hong Kong DanceSport Association Limited, Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong Jockey Club Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Centre, WHO Collaborating Centre for Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Hong Kong Medical Association, and Hong Kong Dietitians Association.
Ends/Friday, July 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:43
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