As the future is in the hands of youth, nurturing youth athletes guarantees sustainable development of competitive sports. To train a new generation of athletes from an early age, the Macao Sport Development Board has been cooperating with various sports associations in establishing youth football, tennis, table tennis, martial arts, bowling and karate academies since 2003. Besides, we have also been providing sustained, scientific and systematic trainings to children and youth with potential in sports. As a result, it lays a solid foundation for the future development of these athletes, fulfills the necessary conditions for their sustainable and progressive development, and nurtures a batch of potential youth athletes to engage more athletes in competitive sports.

To recruit and train potential youth athletes, youth sports academies and corresponding sports associations organized the “Recruitment and Selection Day” for the Macao Youth Table Tennis Academy, the Macao Youth Bowling Academy and the Tennis Youth Academy respectively in the first quarter of this year.

The “Recruitment and Selection Day for the Macao Youth Table Tennis Academy” took place on February 16 at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion. The event attracted over 200 boys and girls born between years 1997 and 2006;

The “Recruitment and Selection Day for Macao Youth Bowling Academy” was held on February 22 at the Bowling Centre with nearly 100 boys and girls participated;

The “Recruitment and Selection Day for Macao Youth Tennis Academy 2014” was organized on February 23 at the Tennis Academy. Around 150 boys and girls born between years 2000 and 2008 took part in the test.

All these sports associations appointed experienced coaches to conduct selection tests for the youth according to their ages. Participants were tested of their physical fitness, speed, reaction, agility, sense of direction and physical coordination. Talented youth were selected to receive systematic trainings by experienced coaches appointed as teachers of youth sports academies.

The youth sports academies play an increasingly significant role in improving youth’s physical fitness, promoting comprehensive development of youth, cultivating talented athletes for the future and facilitating sustainable development of competitive sports.