「賽馬會社區七人欖球計劃」擴大規模加強社區參與香港國際七人欖球賽 2023

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Sevens Community Programmes scale new heights at

Hong Kong Sevens 2023

[2023年3月17日，香港]: 香港欖球總會（欖總）與香港賽馬會（馬會）由即日起為「香港國際七人欖球賽2023」開展一系列社區推廣活動，讓超過10,000名本港市民受惠。

作為「香港國際七人欖球賽」官方社區合作夥伴，馬會將支持「賽馬會社區七人欖球計劃」一系列活動，讓學生、基層人士和社會大眾參加，藉此加深認識欖球運動，享受箇中樂趣，並使他們感受這項國際體壇盛事所帶來的歡樂和刺激體驗。

享譽世界的「香港國際七人欖球賽」今年將於3月31日至4月2日上演，而各項社區推廣活動亦將於賽事開鑼前夕及賽事進行期間，分別在香港大球場內及其他地點舉行。

欖總首席社區總監周思豪先生表示：「過去數十年，『七欖』一直是本地以至世界各地欖球迷聚首一堂參與的盛事，我們很榮幸再次能夠與全城不同年齡層的球迷共享這獨特時刻。欖球運動涵蓋多種重要價值，包括領導才能、團隊精神和公平競技，我們期待與香港年青人分享這些價值，並且與全港市民一起欣賞本港欖球員及其他體壇精英的正面特質。我們十分感激香港賽馬會擔任『香港國際七人欖球賽』的官方社區合作夥伴，以及對賽事的支持和貢獻，並期待在香港大球場與大家見面。」

「賽馬會社區七人欖球計劃」於3月17日正式展開，首個活動是在英華書院舉行的「賽馬會精英運動員分享會：運動無邊界」項目。

兩位中國香港七人欖球代表隊成員莊嘉欣和李卡度，聯同來自賽馬、馬術、足球和劍擊等本港主要體育項目的運動精英，跟現場和網上逾400名師生及家長，分享精英運動員的奮鬥歷程，以及如何透過運動去裝備自己，應對人生挑戰，培養堅毅和迎難而上的正面態度，推廣普及運動。

另外，計劃將於3月25日假海洋公園舉行「賽馬會運動全接觸嘉年華」，邀請大約 600 名10至16歲，來自不同學校，以及非政府組織的兒童參加。屆時將透過共融、團隊合作和領導才能等主題，讓參加者試玩各類運動，從中建立友誼。

「七欖」見!

賽事將於3月31日至4月2日期間在香港大球場上演，同時「賽馬會社區七人欖球計劃」亦進入高潮，屆時數以千計、來自不同年齡層的市民將獲邀到場，觀賞賽事。

一如既往，「賽馬會七人欖球賽學校導賞團」將於3月31 日(星期五)舉行。今年將會安排超過 250 名導賞員，為數千名6至18歲的學生提供心設計的導賞服務，介紹「七欖」和香港大球場。

與此同時，「賽馬會社區七人欖球賽體驗日」將會透過本地非政府組織和學校，向不同基層市民，包括視障人士、有特殊教育需要的學生，以及由馬會支持的各類型長者服務計劃的受惠長者，派發比賽門票，邀請他們入場體驗精彩刺激的賽事，當中很多人都是首次觀賞「七欖」。

隨着防疫措施相繼撤銷後，今年「賽馬會小型欖球表演賽」亦將自2019年後，首度回歸到香港大球場上演，讓城中一眾年輕欖球好手互相對疊。數千名本地小欖球員將與世界頂級欖球選手同場獻技，表演賽將於「七欖」期間的週末 (3月31日至4月2日)早上舉行，而參賽球員的家人亦獲邀到場打氣。

一如其他由馬會捐助的慈善項目，馬會對「香港國際七人欖球賽」的支持有賴其獨特的綜合營運模式，透過稅款及慈善捐款，將博彩及獎券收入回饋香港，貫徹其致力建設更美好社會的宗旨。

圖片說明﹕

圖一

來自欖球、賽馬、馬術、足球和劍擊等本港主要體育項目的運動精英於「賽馬會精英運動員分享會」，跟師生及家長分享奮鬥歷程

「賽馬會社區七人欖球計劃」合照（從左到右）：香港男子足球代表隊成員 - 梁冠聰，香港女子劍擊(重劍)運動員- 江旻憓，香港女子欖球代表隊成員莊嘉欣，欖總首席社區總監周思豪，香港欖球總會行政總裁麥偉彬，香港見習騎師鍾易禮，香港女子足球代表隊成員馬澤純，香港男子欖球代表隊成員李卡度和香港馬術場地障礙賽代表騎手梁巧羚

圖二

「賽馬會社區七人欖球計劃」舉辦一系列社區活動，推廣普及運動。

[Hong Kong, 17 March 2023]: The Hong Kong Rugby Union and The Hong Kong Jockey Club will engage more than 10,000 local residents through a series of programmes centred around the Hong Kong Sevens 2023 this month.

The initiatives are part of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Official Community Partnership with the Hong Kong Sevens 2023 and 2024 organised by the Hong Kong Rugby Union.

As an Official Community Partner, a series of Jockey Club Sevens Community Programmes will be jointly organised for students, the underprivileged and the wider community to better understand and participate in the fun of rugby and to experience the excitement of a globally recognised sporting event.

A variety of initiatives will be held in the lead-up to the world-famous Hong Kong Sevens (31 March – 2 April), both inside and outside the Hong Kong Stadium.

“For decades, the Sevens has been a gathering point for rugby fans from around Hong Kong and the world and we are proud to once again share that special atmosphere with fans of all ages across the city,” said Mr Rocky Chow, Chief Community Officer of the Hong Kong Rugby Union.

“Rugby is centred around essential values like leadership, camaraderie and fair play and we look forward to sharing these values with Hong Kong youth, and to celebrating the positive attributes of the rugby players with other elite athletes and sports from across the city.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Stadium and are very grateful for the efforts and support of our community partner, The Hong Kong Jockey Club,” added Mr Chow.

The Jockey Club Sevens Community Programmes kicks off on 17 March with the Jockey Club Elite Athletes Sharing Session - No Boundaries for Sports at Ying Wa College.

Two players from the Hong Kong, China Rugby Sevens team, Chong Ka-yan and Lee Ka-to Cado, will join elite athletes from other leading Hong Kong sports, including racing, equestrian, football and fencing, in engaging over 400 students, teachers and parents in this hybrid face-to-face and online engagement programme. The sharing session will revolve around the personal journeys of elite athletes, and how participating in sport has helped prepare them for life’s challenges and embrace the positive attitudes of perseverance and resilience, hence to promote sport for all.

On 25 March, about 600 children aged 10-16 from schools and NGO partner programmes will attend the Jockey Club Sports for All Carnival at Ocean Park. Participants will have an opportunity to try new sports and form friendships during a day focussed around the themes of inclusion, teamwork and leadership.

See you at the Sevens!

The programme reaches its crescendo inside the Hong Kong Stadium from 31 March to 2 April with the Hong Kong Sevens tournament entertaining thousands of residents young and old.

31 March (Friday) is the return of the Jockey Club Sevens School Tour. In 2023, over 250 tour guides will provide thousands of students aged 6-18 with a unique and personalised introduction to the Sevens and the Hong Kong Stadium.

The Jockey Club Sevens Community Experience meanwhile will welcome residents from various underprivileged groups, including visually impaired, SEN students and senior citizens from the elderly services programmes supported by the Club, to the Sevens. Many of them will be experiencing the tournament for the first time. The tickets will be distributed through local NGOs and schools so everyone can enjoy the exciting spectacle of the Sevens.

And of course, the Hong Kong Sevens is excited to welcome the return of the city’s youngest ruggers back to the Hong Kong Stadium in the Jockey Club Mini Rugby Showcase for the first time since 2019, following the cessation of pandemic restrictions. Thousands of children and their family members from the local rugby community will share the stage with the world’s best rugby teams and players in the Jockey Club Mini Rugby Showcase every morning of the Sevens weekend (31 March to 2 April).

As with all its donations, The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s support for the Hong Kong Sevens is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate tax and charity support for the community, so as to act continuously for the betterment of our society.

Photo Caption:

Photo 1

Elite aathletes from leading Hong Kong sports, including rugby, racing, equestrian, football and fencing speak to students and parents at Jockey Club Elite Athletes Sharing Session.

Photo 2