At noon on 1st March, the President of the Sports Bureau Mr. Pun Weng Kun sworn at the Government Head Office under the supervision of Dr. Alexis Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture. Mr. Pun said, with the team's effort, he was confident to finish the plan of 2016 and targeted to enhance competitive level of local sports. “It is not in one step but a long process; it should be progressively carried out– to enhance competitive level and at the same time enhance citizens'acceptability to sports and athletes.”
Mr. Pun Urges the Completion of Athletic Training and Development Centre
From the old Macao Sport Development Board to the current Sports Bureau, Mr. Pun has witnessed the change of local sports for the past 28 years. He stated his insight and objective: “In fact, selective talents are scarce in Macau. Compared with many neighboring countries and regions, whose sport items such as track and field and soccer had already reached a high level, it is difficult for Macau to compete. However, since those items are popular in Macau, we should focus on the development of those items so as to further promote them to the society. Regarding competitive sports, we should keep on identifying young athletes with good potential in the early stage and cultivate them to the top level.
Furthermore, Mr. Pun stressed that the establishment of the Athletic Training and Development Centre had entered the final stage of design plan revision; its completion will mark a significant milestone in the history of local sports development. “In the past, local athletes needed training “outside of Macao”, but after completion of the Training Center, it not only provides them conditions for domestic training but also attracts high level foreign athletes coming to Macao for training. In addition, it provides joint training opportunity for local athletes and foreign athletes. In this aspect, it is definitely an advantage for local teams to improve their level. We hope to start tenders by the end of this year or early next year. After that we can be sure about the completion time of the Training Center.”
The Sports Bureau has four key areas of work this year: to organize an outstanding Macau Grand Prix, to strengthen athlete trainings, to enhance the Public Sport Facility Network, and to further optimize for sports of all. Pun Weng Kun said, over the past years, the Sports Bureau has well established working teams who worked together as teams for a long time. With experience on large-scale sport events, he was confident that under the co-operation and efforts of the Sports Bureau's colleagues, they can complete the given tasks of year 2016 in order.
Ms. Lam Lin Kio is appointed as Vice Presidents of Sports Bureau
At noon on 16th March, the Vice President of Sports Bureau, Lam Lin Kio, was inaugurated in a ceremony that was presided over by the President Pun Weng Kun in the headquarter of Sports Bureau. The Head of Macao Grand Prix and Major Sporting Events Department, Lei Si Leng, was also sworn in. Lam Lin Kio indicated that after her appointment, her major tasks would be to organize the Macau Grand Prix and various large-scale events. Regarding the preparation of the Macau Grand Prix, she said that after the first meeting with the Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee, her teams had actively started the preparation works. Since it is the 50th anniversary of Motorcycle Grand Prix, she disclosed that there would be celebration activities this year. She had previously met the Automobile General Association Macao-China and had discussion on inviting more excellent racing drivers to Macao for competitions. On the other hand, Ms. Lam pointed out that there were 12 sub-committees under the Macau Grand Prix Organizing Committee, and new sub-committee of brand development would be set up this year. She hoped to promote the Grand Prix to the local as well as the international communities with the packaging in the form of a cultural and creative industrial product.
