To help local athletes in their quest to qualify for the London Paralympic Games in 2012, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has donated HK$1.94 million to the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (HKPC & SAPD) to host the 2011 ITTF PTT Asian & Oceanic Table Tennis Regional Championships for the Disabled in Hong Kong, the last qualifying competition for players to earn ‘entry tickets’ to the London Paralympics next year.
Speaking at a press conference today (21 November) announcing the December competition, Jockey Club Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So said, “We are honoured and delighted to serve as the Championships’ Principal Contributor, and believe that the event will be a great opportunity for the region’s table tennis players to display their potential, as well as help promote the value of disabled sports to the community. I wish our local players every success in earning their ‘entry tickets’ to the Paralymic Games.”
Mr So noted that the Club had long followed the philosophy of sports being for everyone, supporting the rehabilitation riding programme and para-equestrian training for disabled riders since 1975. In addition, the Club was the Principal Contributor to the 3rd Asia & South Pacific Boccia Championships in 2009 which, like this event, was a qualifying contest for the 2012 London Paralympics.
The Championships are being staged from 14 to 21 December at the Ma On Shan Sports Centre, and comprise men’s singles, men’s team, women’s singles and women’s team events involving 11 different classifications in each. The winners of the men’s singles and women’s singles in each classification will qualify for the 2012 London Paralympic Games. This year, the Championships have attracted a record entry of 184 athletes from 16 countries and regions, 37% more than the 2009 Championships in Jordan and the best-ever participation rate.
Over the years, the Club has supported sports development for both able-bodied and disabled athletes, working with HKPC & SAPD for more than 30 years to promote sports for the physically disabled and raising awareness among the community. The Club has also played an important role in supporting local sports development in terms of hardware, such as the Hong Kong Sports Institute, Hong Kong Stadium, and of software through the support for many local sporting bodies.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong’s best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city’s major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects. It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city’s growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.
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Jockey Club Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So says the Club is honoured and delighted to serve as the eventa£į?s Principal Contributor and hopes the local table tennis players will earn a£į?entry ticketsa£į? to the 2012 London Paralymic Games from the Championships.
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Jockey Club Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (2nd left) joins Chairman of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled Jenny Fung (3rd right); Vice Chairman Dr James Lam (3rd left) ; Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Jonathan McKinley (2nd right); Hong Kong Table Tennis Association Chairman Tony Yue (1st right) and Organising Committee Chairman Martin Lam (1st left) to launch the Championshipsa£į? official website.
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Photos 3, Photos 4:
Officiating guests pictured with the Hong Kong Team and wish them every success in earning their a£į?entry ticketsa£į? to the London Paralymic Games.
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Jockey Club Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (1st left), Chairman of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled Jenny Fung (2nd right); Vice Chairman Dr James Lam (1st right) and local athlete Wong Pui Yi (2nd left).
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