On February 18th, the newly appointed 2016-2018 Sports Committee held its first meeting at the conference room of Macao East Asia Games Dome. Dr. Alexis, Tam Chon Weng, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture and President of the Sports Committee, acted as the moderator. Dr. Tam started by congratulating all the committee members on their election and sent his festive greetings for the New Year.
Functions and Organization of the Bureau Introduced
The meeting has introduced to all members the Administrative Regulation No. 19/2015, Organization and Operation of the Sports Bureau, which was taken into effect on January 1st of this year and elaborates on the functions and structure of the Sports Bureau. During the meeting, budgets for fixed subsidies and special subsidies in 2016 and additional explanations for 2015 budget implementation have been reported. There has also been reports on the utilization and expansion of the Public Sports Facilities Network, which covers facilities like free sports grounds and swimming pools transferred from the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, and on the negotiation progress on the Network's future partnerships for service scope expansion.
Promoting Sports Tourism
As the final part of the meeting, the new year's policies in the sporting area were introduced, including encouraging sports participation and promoting sports tourism in Macao, building systems for talents and improving physical training mechanism, attending international sports activities and strengthening regional cooperation, learning about changes in physical conditions and enhancing awareness in keeping healthy, and expanding space for sports, providing favourable sports environment. Committee members were also invited to give suggestions on policy implementation and sports development in Macau.
Research on Developing Aquatic Sports
According to Dr. Alexis, Tam Chon Weng, in the future, sports, tourism and culture authorities will give full play to Macau's own advantages, enhance synergetic effects, discuss on creating more signature sports events, optimally utilize Coloane Karting Track and develop theme projects, and at the same time, research on proper development of aquatic sports by seizing the opportunities brought by the Chinese Central Government's clarification on Macau’s 85 km² of waters.
Cheang Kuok Hang: Right Direction
After the meeting, Cheang Kuok Hang, who has been elected the Committee member as the top vote-winner, said: “The SAR Government and the Sports Bureau have, in recent years, been trying to bring some large-scale or international sports games into Macau, reform and improve gradually the existing systems to move forward sports in the right direction.”
Henry Ho Hopes to Contribute More
The local racing driver, Henry Ho expressed: “As a new comer to the meeting of the Sports Committee, I mostly listened and learned during discussions. In the future, I hope I can offer suggestions for the Grand Prix Macau Committee and even contribute my bit to Macau's sports.”
Ng Iat On: Observe Duty Devotedly
Ng Iat On, one of the new faces in the committee believed: “I hope that I could bring my experience as an athlete and a coach into the Sports Committee, and put forward feasible suggestions to observe my duty as a member of the committee.”
