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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (August 4) held Sport For All Day 2013, with free recreational programmes provided at designated sports centres in the 18 districts and most of its leisure facilities opened up for free use.
The event, held annually since its debut in 2009, had a catchy slogan this year: "Stay active. Exercise every day with your family". It aims to promote family and parent-child sports activities and encourages people to make sports and physical activities part of their daily life.
Speaking at a launch ceremony for the event held at Hang Hau Sports Centre in Tseung Kwan O this afternoon, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, said Sport For All Day 2013 is one of the highlight events under the city-wide "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign and is organised to bring Hong Kong people a joyful and healthy day.
"The LCSD provides various leisure facilities, parks and recreation venues throughout the territory, which are all perfect places for family sports. It is also convenient for people to exercise after work at the 33 fitness walking trails in parks and promenades located in different districts," he said.
At the ceremony, Mr Tsang launched the "Fitness Walking" mobile application (app) developed by the LCSD, which helps users to locate the fitness walking trails nearby and to record information on each walk, including time, distance, speed, calorie consumption and the number of steps. This app also provides health calculation tools, such as those for calculating body mass index, target training heart rate and daily steps.
Also officiating at today's launch ceremony were the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok; the Chairman of the Community Sports Committee, Mr William Tong; the Sport Ambassador from the Sai Kung District Council, Mr Stanley Tam; and the acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Bobby Cheng.
In a joint appeal with Sport Ambassadors and representatives from the District Councils, the officiating guests called on the public to stay active in supporting Sport For All Day. Local elite athletes Miss Ng On-yee (snooker) and Mr Shek Wai-hung (gymnastics) also attended the ceremony with their families to share their sporting experiences and advocate the family sports culture.
The LCSD offered more than 180 free recreation programmes at designated sports centres in the 18 districts today, varying from parent-child sports programmes and exercise demonstrations to fitness corner seminars and sports play-ins.
The department also made available the majority of its leisure facilities for free use by the public today. These included indoor leisure facilities such as badminton courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, netball courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, American pool tables, billiard tables, carom tables, sport climbing walls, bowling greens, golf facilities, fitness rooms, activity rooms and dance rooms. Also available for free use were certain outdoor leisure facilities like tennis courts, tennis practice courts, bowling greens, batting cages, rope courses, sport climbing walls, archery ranges and golf facilities (not including camping facilities, sports grounds, and artificial and natural turf pitches). Other free-of-charge facilities included public swimming pools and craft at water sports centres.
Sport For All Day 2013 is co-organised with the Department of Health; the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Centre; the Postgraduate Diploma/Master of Science in Sports Medicine and Health Science Alumni Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China.
Ends/Sunday, August 4, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:24
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