Organized by the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee, this year’s largest Hong Kong Para Sports Experience Day – “Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2022” was held on 30 October at Tiu Keng Leng Sports Centre.
“Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2022” was packed with activities, including 17 sports trials, a Paralympic History exhibition and a sharing session with Para athletes. Through a variety of sports trials, the public was encouraged to experience the fun of Para sports and to embrace the spirit of inclusive community.
For the first time in Hong Kong, the event also featured an exhibition of the Hangzhou 2022 4th Asian Para Games Torch, giving the public a first glimpse of the torch.
The opening ceremony of “Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2022” was officiated by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Yeung Yun Hung The officiating guests included
- Mrs. Jenny Fung BBS JP, President of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee
- Dr. York Chow GBS SBS MBE, Honorary President of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee
- Mr. Timothy Fok GBS JP, President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China
- Dr. Lam Tai Fai GBS SBS JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute
- Mr. Lester Garson Huang SBS JP, Honorary Legal Advisor of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee
- Mr. Liu Ming Kwong JP, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services
- The Hon Kenneth Fok Kai Kong JP, Member of the Legislative Council
- Mr. Yeung Tak Keung ,Commissioner for Sport, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau
- Dr. John Leung Lai Yin, Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled and Honorary Secretary of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee
- Dr. Jim Luk Tsz Chung, Chairman of The Hong Kong Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability and Vice President of Hong Kong Paralympic Committee
- Mr. Benny Cheung Wai Leung BBS, Board of Director of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Chairman of the Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2022 Organising Committee
- Ms. Elaine Wu Siu Ling, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee
At the opening ceremony, Mrs. Jenny Fung BBS JP, President of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKPC), thanked the public for their participation in the “Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2022” and said,
“This year’s Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2022 is particularly meaningful as it is the first time that the HKPC has organised such a large-scale Hong Kong Para Sports Experience Day after its split into an independent organisation. It is hoped that the event will bring together different sectors of the community to further promote and support the development of local Para sports and promote the spirit of Paralympic Movement. At the same time, we hope to identify potential athletes to participate in training through the event. I would like to thank all the organisations and stakeholders for their support and active participation in this year’s Hong Kong Paralympic Day, which made the event a huge success.
At the opening ceremony, Mr Yeung Yun-hung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, “I am delighted to attend the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2022. The HKSAR Government is committed to promoting sports development and encouraging people of all ages and abilities to participate in sports activities and build up the habit of regular exercise. In addition, we hope that through the upcoming “Pilot programme on career and education for Para athletes”, Para athletes will be able to devote themselves to training, competitions and focus on pursuing their dreams in sports. In the coming year, the HKSAR Government will continue to support the development Para sports in Hong Kong, as it has done in the past, with an estimated expenditure of over $100 million in 2022-23, more than double the amount spent five years ago (2017-18). I look forward to working with the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee, the relevant National Sports Associations and other National Sports Associations to promote the development of Para sports and the spirit of inclusiveness.
After the opening ceremony, the officiating guests tried out Para Sports with the athletes and shared the fun of sports, encouraging the public to take part in sports.
This year’s Hong Kong Paralympic Day 2022 attracted a large number of participants, with over 2,500 people coming to experience different Para sports, including wheelchair fencing, wheelchair tennis and bowling, etc.
