亞運以後： 期待欖球運動更多發展 BEYOND ASIAN GAMES : EMBRACING THE FUTURE OF RUGBY SPORTS
在過去數星期，中國香港運動員在「杭州第19屆亞運會」刷新獎牌新紀錄，引起全城關注。我們再次見證到，體育具有特殊力量，能團結社會、分享歡樂及建立自豪感，同時也帶來其他社會及經濟效益。而且，我們可以肯定，行政長官在即將發表的施政報告上，亦將提到上述體壇盛事。
中國香港欖球總會(欖總)對男、女子隊在亞運七人欖球賽分別勇奪金牌及銅牌的驕人成績，深感自豪。於同一個星期，我們也獲悉家傭欖球隊及聾人欖球隊均被提名《南華早報》「香港精神獎」，這統統提醒我們，體育能對整個社會產生更廣泛和積極的影響。
以上兩項項目均是說明體育促進社會凝聚力的例子，我們的「橄欖成長基金」(Rugby for Good)亦已採取多項舉措，旨於匯聚香港、深圳和少數族裔的學生們，透過「基於遊戲的學習」建立友誼及促進相互理解。此外，本地慈善機構「奮進行動」(Operation Breakthrough)在過去逾 20 年，亦一直透過各項體育運動作為媒界，接觸高危青少年，助他們與義務警察官員間建立溝通橋樑。而「橄欖成長基金」屬下教練亦在懲教署支持下，在歌連臣角懲教所及壁屋懲教所，舉辦多個欖球課程。
另一個關注領域為青少年心理健康。近期有研究顯示，五成香港青少年表現出抑鬱徵狀，四成學生認為自己壓力水平偏高。勞倫斯體育公益基金會於2021年將其「模範城市」計畫引入香港。該計劃提供一個合作平台，匯聚本地非政府組織，致力利用體育作為媒介，以改善年輕人整體心理健康及福祉。
啟德體育園即將竣工，相信將為體育界帶來全新機遇，政府亦承諾支持提升體育界的專業水平，積極推動體育運動產業化。我們親歷大型賽事，如國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽對香港經濟的正面影響。《南華早報》在2018年的一篇撰章亦指出，參加國際七人欖球賽的海外球迷平均會在香港逗留 8 天、消費額約19,000港元，帶來旅客在港消費總額約3.8億港元。
我們將繼續擴展人才庫，其中包括每年為來自「奮進行動」及少數族裔背景的青少年提供9個有薪學徒職位。另從2024年開始，我們將與桑德蘭大學合作開辦全新的《英國運動學國家高級文憑（第五級）》課程。
因此，讓我們祝賀表現出色的運動員，慶祝他們勇創佳績，也希望藉他們的努力提醒我們所有人「體育能為我們的城市帶來廣泛好處」。
資料及相片來源 : Hong Kong China Rugby
Over the past few weeks our Hong Kong, China athletes have created an excited buzz around the city with their record haul of medals at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. We have seen repeatedly that sport has a unique power to bring a sense of unity and pride to societies, creating a ‘feel good factor’ which also brings with it social and economic benefits, and we can be sure that the Chief Executive will pay tribute to this sporting success story in his upcoming Policy Address.
At Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) we were of course immensely proud of the achievements of our Men’s and Women’s teams who took Gold and Bronze respectively in the Rugby Sevens event. In the same week we also learnt that representatives of both our domestic helper and deaf rugby teams had been nominated for the SCMP “Spirit of Hong Kong Awards”, and this is a timely reminder of the wider positive impact the sports sector can have across the community.
Both these programmes are examples of the role sport can play in promoting social cohesion, and our Rugby for Good Foundation has a number of initiatives addressing this critical issue, bringing together youngsters from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and ethnic minority students and fostering friendship and understanding through play-based learning. Another well established local charity, Operation Breakthrough, has for more than 20 years used various sports to reach out to at-risk youngsters and help build bridges between them and volunteer police officers, and Rugby for Good coaches have run several courses in both Cape Collinson and Pik Uk Correctional Institutions with the support of the Correctional Services Department.
Youth mental health is another area of concern, with recent studies revealing that half of Hong Kong’s adolescents showed signs of depression and 40 per cent of students rating their stress levels as high. Laureus Sport for Good Foundation brought their Model City initiative to Hong Kong in 2021, a collaborative platform bringing together local NGOs who endeavour to use sport as a medium to improve the overall mental health and well-being of young people.
With the much anticipated completion of the Kai Tak Sports Park just around the corner which will bring with it a whole new world of opportunity, the Government has made a commitment to support the enhancement of professionalism in the sports sector and the promotion of sports as an industry. We have seen first hand the positive impact events like the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens have had on our local economy, with a SCMP article in 2018 noting that a typical overseas fan coming to the Sevens stays in Hong Kong for an average of 8 days and spends around HK$19,000, adding up to a total tourism spend in the city of around HK$380 million.
We will continue our own efforts to deepen the sector talent pool, which include providing 9 paid apprentice positions each year to youngsters from Operation Breakthrough and ethnic minority backgrounds, and starting in 2024 we will partner with the University of Sunderland to launch our own Higher National Diploma course in Sport.
So, let us raise a glass to our wonderful athletes and toast their incredible achievements, and also hope that their efforts will help remind us all of the broader benefits that sport can bring to our city.
Information and photo source : Hong Kong China Rugby
