First
Gentleman Visits Hong Kong Sports Institute
11
April 2005
First Gentleman Jose Miguel T. Arroyo paid a visit to the Hong Kong Sports
Institute on 11 April 2005, aiming
to understand the Hong Kong elite sports support system for reference of
achieving international sporting success for the country.
Mr. Arroyo was accompanied by the following:
1. Rep. Monico
Puentebella -- Congressman (Bacolod City)
2. Assec. Juris
Soliman -- Chief of Staff, Office of the First Gentleman
3. Mr. Joseph
Dy -- Consultant and husband of Pasay Rep. Connie Dy
4. Mr. William
Ramirez -- OIC, Philippine Sports Commission
5. Mr. Carlos
Tuason -- Board Trustee, First Gentleman Foundation
They were joined
by Consulate personnel, led by Consul Ma. Theresa de Vega and Vice Consul
Noel Novicio. The Consulate arranged the visit, in coordination with the
Office of the First Gentleman and HKSI.
The delegation was received by HKSI Vice-Chairman Mr. Tommy Tam and
management staff, led by HKSI CEO
Dr. Chung Pak-kwong. Two
Filipino coaches working with HKSI – Mr. Ricky Tianco and Ms. Genevieve
Serrano – also joined the meeting. They
toured the sports facilities
and exchanged views with the HKSI management on the support and services
provided to the elite athletes in Hong Kong. Mr. Tam also presented Hong
Kong’s strategy for its Olympic program, focusing on 13 major sports.
Both sides agreed to continue this kind of visit and dialogue, especially
in preparation for international sports competitions. The Philippine side
stressed that its main goal is to win the country’s first Olympic gold
medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Hong Kong won its first Olympic gold
medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics through Ms. Lee Lai Shan, a
sailboarder.
“We look
forward to working closely with the Philippine Sports Commission and other
related sporting institutes in the coming future,” Dr. Chung said.
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