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The sportACT award scheme, launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at the beginning of the 2006-07 school year, has encouraged 17,267 primary and secondary students to engage in at least 18 hours of sports activities in eight-week periods set by the students themselves.
The encouraging result was announced at a ceremony today (July 5) at Shek Kip Mei Park Sports Centre to launch an extension of the scheme into the summer holidays as the Summer Active Challenge.
Gold, silver and bronze award certificates were issued in this school year according to the amount of time each student participated in sports activities over the eight weeks - 30 hours for gold, 24 for silver and 18 for bronze.
Of the 17,267 students, 296 were awarded two or more medals. In one school, 86% of students received awards.
The sportACT award scheme is one of the subsidiary programmes of the School Sports Programme funded by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
A total of 185 schools with 127,329 students taking part signed up for the sportACT Award Scheme and pledged to support their students in their efforts to reach the goals they set for themselves.
When 25% or more of a school's student population receives sportACT certificates, the school will receive an Active School Award. Forty-six schools received that award at today's ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Convener of the Student Sport Activities Co-ordinating Subcommittee of the Community Sports Committee, Mr Fan Kam-ping, called on students to plan their sports activities during the summer holidays against sportACT benchmarks and continue to make sports part of their daily lives.
Mr Fan attributed the success of the School Sports Programme to the enthusiasm of the students and the co-operation of the school principals, teachers, parents, coaches, National Sports Associations and the Education Bureau.
Also officiating at today's ceremony were Senior Curriculum Development Officer (Physical Education) of the Education Bureau, Dr Chow Wah, and Chief Leisure Manager (Sports Development) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Mrs Annie Choy.
Ends/Thursday, July 5, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:46
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