Page 15 - Sphere No.13 (Dec 2004)

produced more than 100 junior athletes
who have set new Hong Kong records in
junior age-group categories.
“The first intake is now in the 11-12
age group and setting records. It’s a great
challenge and extremely rewarding,” says
Tsui. “We hope some of them will be
competing in the 2009 Asian Games.
That is our five-year target.”
But she stresses that the programme is
not all about winning. “We teach them
a lot about sportsmanship as well,” she
says. “They have to learn to act in
a dignified way whether they win or lose.
We also insist on them having the disci-
pline to also concentrate on their stud-
ies. In fact, we regularly meet parents
and monitor the academic performances
and conduct of our youngsters.
“Our mission is to build character and
promote the wellbeing of local youth
through participation in sports,
especially in track and field,
while uplifting the standard of
Hong Kong athletes through local and
overseas training programmes and
nurturing special talent in pursuit of
sporting excellence.”
In the meantime, the WAC holds
annual summer youth training
programmes, on the lookout for talents
from the 12-18 year age group. It also
organises track and field training
sessions for primary and secondary
school students during the summer
months of July and August.
“It’s one of the largest and most pres-
tigious summer athletic programmes in
Hong Kong and has always been well
received by schools and parents,” says
Tsui. Over 900 children in the 12-19 age
group attend every year, for just
a nominal fee. Another programme
specafically targets long-distance
runners aged 13 and over.
Beyond training, the WAC further
stages free athletic demonstrations
at schools, especially on “sports days”
when its accomplished athletes demon-
strate proper skills for different events
and share their experiences of
top competitions.
“If we can arouse the interest of local
youngsters to the world of sports so that
they ultimately take up sports as a
lifelong pursuit for physical and mental
fitness, then it’s quite an achievement
for us, one that is rare but very
meaninful for a commercial company,”
says Malina Ngai, General Manager,
Corporate Communications at the A.S.
Watson Group.
And it’s not only in Hong Kong where
ASW is giving a boost to local sports.
“The Group encourages each country
operation to identify the best way to
contribute to local community sports,”
Ngai adds. With operations in 20 coun-
tries and regions throughout Asia and
Europe, this adds up to a lot of support
for young athletes.
“You usually don’t need any special
equipment or facilities to be an
athlete,” says Ngai. “Really,
you don’t even need
designer label running
shoes. You can run bare-
foot. That’s the joy
of athletics – it’s
pure, just like
Watsons Water.”
SPHERE 13