EdUHK Launches a Sports Association for Older Adults in Hong Kong, China
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held the inauguration ceremony for the Sports Association for Older Adults in Hong Kong, China (SAOAHK) on the Tai Po campus today (27 July). The SAOAHK was founded by Dr Carman Leung Ka-man, Associate Head of the Department of Health and Physical Education (HPE), and Mr Nicholas Chan Hiu-fung, Hong Kong Deputy to the National People's Congress.
The SAOAHK is committed to promoting “Active Ageing” in Hong Kong, by enhancing the promotion of physical and sports activities for older adults to improve their quality of life, and to connect sports professionals and older sports enthusiasts to provide sports-related services for older adults. The association will also train older sports talent, strengthen research and exchanges related to physical and sports activities for older adults in Hong Kong and other places, and help organise sports events for older adults.
Officiating at the ceremony were Vice President (Research and Development) Professor Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, HPE Assistant Professor Dr Claudia WONG Ming-yu, SAOAHK founders Dr Carman Leung and Mr Nicholas Chan, and SAOAHK Board Member Dr Lam Ching-Choi and Dr Lobo Louie Hung Tak Senior Lecturer of HPE. Other Board Member includes EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, Hon Vincent Cheng Wing-shun and Dr Patrick Yung Shu-Hang.
Dr Leung said she was delighted to see the establishment of the SAOAHK and looked forward to the association’s promotion of sports among older adults. This will enable them to build a healthy social network and facilitate exchanges between the elderly and like-minded individuals from different regions, she added.
As a member of the association board, Professor Chan said he hoped the association would gather older adults who are interested in sports activities, help maintain their physical and mental health, and create a community environment suitable for a healthy lifestyle for the elderly. This will also pave the way for the University to promote the “Health and Wellbeing” sustainable goal in Tai Po District and research work in our Longevity Research Cluster, he said.
Mr Chan who frequently engages in light volleyball activities with older adults, expressed his gratitude for the support from all parties, which has enabled the SAOAHK to attract like-minded individuals to implement the national fitness and Healthy China 2030 goals.
Dr Lam, who is deeply concerned about the health of the elderly, said he hopes the SAOAHK can connect different stakeholders to jointly promote sports and active aging for older adults.
The RIF Light Volleyball Competition (Grand Finals) was held on 26 and 27 July on the EdUHK Tai Po campus. The event is part of the ‘Promoting Healthy Ageing Through Light Volleyball Promotion in Hong Kong and Mainland China’ research project, under the Research Impact Fund. The project involved conducting a large-scale intervention study on light volleyball. It trained 310 light volleyball coaches, organised over 85 classes, and benefitted about 3,500 older adults. The competitions held in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Nanchang, including today’s event, were attended by 530 older adults.
Today’s event was co-organised by the Light Volleyball Association, the Elderly Sports Association Shenzhen, the Nanchang Light Volleyball Association, and the SAOAHK, and attracted 15 teams from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Nanchang.
The team will continue the promotion of light volleyball for older adults, holding training classes and international competitions for older adults in 2025.
Sitting Light Volleyball, developed by Dr Leung and her team, is a team sport suitable for people of all ages with or without disabilities.
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