The latest issue of the HKSI's Sports Excellence was published on 21 November as a supplement to Ming Pao, bringing news of local elite sports and the work of the HKSI to the public. To view the online edition (in Chinese only), please click here.

The Youth Athletes Scholarship Award aims to provide scholarships to local athletes aged 18 or below who win medals in three youth games, including the Youth Olympic Games, Asian Youth Games and the Asian Youth Para Games. A total of 42 young athletes achieved 20 medals (2 gold, 5 silver and 13 bronze) in the 2^nd Asian Youth Games held in Nanjing, China in August. To recognise their outstanding performance, a ceremony was held on 20 November, where an amount of HK$180,000 was awarded to the medalists.

The Hong Kong-Shanghai Strength and Conditioning Symposium 2013 was took place on 17-18 December at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI). The theme was "Considerations for strength training in young athletes". Ten overseas and local speakers shared the latest strength and conditioning knowledge, theories and practices with coaches, athletes and sports professionals through keynote presentations and workshops. Also, four participants orally presented free papers at the Symposium. The Symposium was jointly organised by the HKSI , Shanghai Sports Institute and NSCA-Shanghai.

Mrs Belinda Greer, new Chief Executive Officer of the English Schools Foundation; and Dr Lev Beloussov, Rector of the Russian International Olympic University, visited the HKSI on 6 and 27 November respectively. The visitors exchanged views with HKSI management in athlete education support services and toured the HKSI’s facilities. On 9 December, the HKSI also received a visit from Mag Reinhard Gruden, President of the Institute for Sports Medicine & Science – Austria (IMSB), who toured the HKSI’s elite training and support service facilities to gain a better understanding of athletes’ training activities in Hong Kong.

Seventeen Hong Kong elite athletes from athletics, badminton, billiard sports, karatedo, table tennis and triathlon participated in a friendly football match and skills challenge games with artistes from the Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) on 14 November at the HKSI football pitch. Despite losing the match 1-2, the elite athletes’ team have shown great sporting spirits throughout the activities. The friendly match was featured on the TVB programme “Fun World” on 1 December as part of its promotional campaign leading to the World Cup 2014.

Being the ambassadors of the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF, cyclists Lee Wai-sze and Wong Kam-po promoted child rights by joining the “UNICEF Charity Run 2013”on 24 November. More than 14,000 runners have participated in the event, which has raised fund worth over HK$10 million for the underprivileged. The Hon Mrs Carrie Lam GBS JP, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, joined hands with the ambassadors to officiate at the activity and encouraged all parties to actively participate in charity.

Shuttlers Wong Wing-ki and Yip Pui-yin participated in the Hang Seng 80^th Anniversary Fun Day on 24 November at the HKSI. This annual staff activity was the finale event of the anniversary campaign, attracting over 1,400 staff members, their families and friends. Led by Ms Rose Lee, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, staff played team games with elite athletes to promote work-life balance and team work.

Wheelchair fencer Yu Chui-yee was recently invited by organisations for a number of sharing sessions, including a corporate luncheon of Chun Wo Development Holdings Ltd, the annual staff seminar of the Transport Department, and the annual kick-off seminar of AIA International Ltd. During the sessions, she inspired participants with her story, and encouraged them to develop a new business perspective by facing challenges with a positive attitude.