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Hong Kong will host the preliminary matches of Wushu Sanda, a kind of Chinese martial arts adversary sport, for the Ninth National Games from April 18 to April 23.

This was formally announced by the Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Preparation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Delegation to the Ninth National Games of the People's Republic of China (the Organising Committee), Mr Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, at a press conference today (February 24) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

The preliminary Wushu Sanda contest will be held at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Wan Chai.

"This is the first time Hong Kong hosts competitions for the National Games. It is a great honour for Hong Kong and a tremendous boost to the local sporting community," said Mr Fok.

The President of the Hong Kong Wushu Union, Mr Ian Fok Chun-wan, said at the press conference: "Wushu Sanda is an adversary fighting sport that takes place in a ring. It can be traced back to ancient times.

"Wushu enthusiasts in Hong Kong are no strangers to this sport, the main techniques of which are kicking, boxing wrestling and grappling. Spectators will find it very exciting."

A total of 400 athletes from 38 provinces, municipalities and organisations will come to Hong Kong for the preliminary Wushu Sanda contest.

These athletes will vie for 132 places in the Wushu Sanda finals to be held in Guangdong in August.

A committee chaired by Mr Ian Fok Chun-wan and consisting of representatives from the Organising Committee, the Hong Kong Wushu Union and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department had been formed to organise the preliminary Wushu Sanda contest on behalf of the Wushu Administration Centre of the State Sport General Administration of China.

To commemorate the hosting of this important sporting event, the Hong Kong Post will issue a specially designed stamp sheetlet, which the Postmaster General, Mr Luk Ping-chuen, introduced to the media at today's press conference.

Also attending the press conference were the Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Arthur Ng Shek-hon; the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Isaac Chow Yiu-nam; representatives from the four committees under the Organising Committee, Mrs Vivien Fung Lau Cheung-chu, Dr Albert Hung Chao-hong, Professor Chan Kai-ming and Mr Yau Po-wing; and Secretary General of the Organising Committee, Mr Pang Chung.

End/Saturday, February 24, 2001

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