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Hong Kong's first-ever and largest international coaching forum - International Council for Coach Education Asian Regional Coaching Conference took place at the Sports House, Causeway Bay today (Friday). Over 140 coaches and sports professionals participate in the three-day event held between 25 and 27 February to share views and experience with coaching specialists in the development of sports coaching in Asia.

Jointly hosted by the Hong Kong Coaching Committee (HKCC) and the International Council for Coach Education (ICCE) with the theme "Development of Sports Coaching in Asia: Trend and Challenge", the three-day event features a group of world renowned experts who would cover extensive areas relating to sports coaching, physiology, psychology and sports management.

There are a total of 18 keynote and invited speakers for the Conference. In today's programme, Mr John Bales, President-Elect of the ICCE and President of the Coaching Association of Canada, spoke on global trends of the development of coaches training while Mr Du Lijun, from Mainland China, who is the Vice-President for Asia of the ICCE, gave a detailed account on the role of coaches in helping China succeed on the international stage.

Other keynote speakers include Mr Eugene Chew, Chief of Sports Management & Development, Singapore Sports Council; Mr Pang Chung, Hon Secretary General of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC); Dr Thomas Flock, Director General of the Academy for Sports Excellence in Qatar; Professor Li Guoping, Chief Executive of the National Sports Hospital and Vice President of the National Research Institute of Sports Medicine, State Sport General Administration of China; Dr Pat Duffy, Director of the National Coaching & Training Centre, University of Limerick in Ireland and Mr Zhang Yadong, Deputy Chief Coach of the National Swimming Team of China.

An Opening Ceremony was also held today with officiating guests, including Hon Timothy Fok, President of the SF&OC; Mr Victor Hui, Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and Dr Uri Schaefer, President of the International Council for Coach Education.

Fok praised the value of sports to the community. "Sports can drive a city's profile and quality. It is also a community builder which brings immense spiritual wealth and momentum." "Coaching support, among others, plays a crucial role in both grassroot participation and elite sports training," he added.

Victor Hui shared the same view in his opening remarks for the Conference by saying, "Coach plays a significant role in the pursuit of sporting excellence. What is behind a medal is not only the hard work of the athletes, but also the support, encouragement and contribution from the coaches. The quality of coaching is of paramount importance in both training and competition. Coaching support is beyond all doubt the key to success."

"It (the Conference) aims to provide a forum where participants from different parts of the world can have the opportunity to exchange views and ideas with their international counterparts," Hui added.

Dr Uri Schaefer, thanked the HKCC for organising such an event, adding that the theme of the Conference "Development of Sports Coaching in Asia: Trend and Challenge" came at the right time. "What is sport if not a wonderful challenge which sets time and again new horizons. Asia in this respect is a growing star whose impact over the ensuing years at major international and world class events will be felt especially over the next four years heading to Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games," he said.

In addition, a sharing session on "Olympic Success: Behind the Scene" will take place on Sunday. Four renowned coaches from China and Hong Kong will speak on their experience of leading athletes to achieve success in the Olympic Games. They include Zhang Yadong of the National Swimming Team of China, Rene Appel of the Hong Kong China Windsurfing Team, and Hui Jun and Chan Kong-wah, both of the Hong Kong China Table Tennis Team. The public is welcome to join. For details, please contact the Conference Secretariat at (852) 2681 6289 or ICCE-ARCC@hksi.org.hk for details.

The Conference organizer HKCC, established in July 1991, is a joint committee between the SF&OC and the HKSI, with the aim to formulate short-term and long-term strategies for the development of coach education and accreditation programmes in Hong Kong. The ICCE is a non-profit, international organisation with the mission of promoting coaching as an internationally accepted profession.