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When elite athletes from all over the world are gearing up for the Beijing Olympics, experts from sports medicine, science and coaching are also working hard behind the scene to provide the athletes with their best support. To capture this Olympic spree, the 15^th Hongkong Bank Foundation Elite Coaches Seminar featured the theme "Sports Injuries" this year. The Seminar was held at Olympic House on 26 January 2008 (Saturday) and has successfully attracted over 150 local and overseas coaches to attend.

Four renowned speakers coming from Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong, who all have a strong sports medicine background, were present at the Seminar. Dr Benedict Tan, Senior Consultant Sports Physician and Head of Changi Sports Medicine Centre of Changi General Hospital in Singapore, is the first Singaporean sailor to win a gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games. He is now a reputed sports rehabilitation physician. He was the most persuasive expert to speak on the topic "Ankled Foot Injuries in Sports".

Dr Li Fangxiang, Deputy Director & Head of Department of Surgery in the Sports Medicine Hospital of All-China Sports Federation in China, spoke on the topic "The Treatment of Injuries". Dr Li is an expert in orthopaedics sports medicine and has extensive experience with sporting teams. He has assisted many renowned elite athletes back to the front line, including Yao Ming, Liu Xiang, and Tian Liang.

Prof Zhang Shiming, Former President of Sichuan Province Orthopaedics Hospital & Former Head of Chengdu Sports Injury Institute in China, is now a member of the medical expert team for the 2008 Olympics National Teams and has over 40 years of clinical experience in sports injuries. He was also awarded the Top 10 Sichuan Famous Physicians in Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2006. He shared with the audience on "Prevention of Sports Injuries in Sports Training" during the seminar.

Dr Patrick Yung, Associate Consultant & Team Head in the Division of Orthopaedics Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in the Prince of Wales Hospital, is a specialist in Orthopaedics and Traumatology, especially in the field of Orthopaedics Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery. He is also the Honorary Sports Medicine Consultant of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, taking care of college, professional and national sports teams. Dr Yung also shared his experience on the topic "Common Injuries in Elite Athletes & Its Implication to Training".

Prof Frank Fu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Coaching Committee, said when delivering a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony, "With the support from the All-China Sports Federation, we are able to invite renowned speakers from Mainland China to share their expertise and views with our local coaches. This annual Seminar not only provides an excellent opportunity for our coaches to gain international exposure, it also provides them with opportunities for continuous professional development in sports coaching."

Jiang Zhixue, Director of the Science & Education Department of All-China Sports Federation and leader of the China delegation of this visit, said, "The Hongkong Bank Foundation Elite Coaches Seminar is a golden opportunity for coaches between Hong Kong and Mainland China to exchange expertise and ideas. Well received by local and international coaches, the Seminar does not only help improve coaches' capability and quality, but also contribute to the development of competitive sports." Mr Jiang added that the Seminar has become an international seminar for coaches in the Asian region, which is very positive in promoting coach education in the long run.

At the ceremony, the organiser also presented the newly set up scholarships to six coaches with outstanding academic results at 2006/07 Sports-General Theory courses of the Hongkong Bank Foundation Coach Accreditation Programme. Among the scholarship awardees, Lee Kai-hong (Rowing), Li Kwok-ho (Archery), Fung Yee-mai (Wushu) and Mak Tsun-wah (Canoe) have completed Level 1 course; Tang Ka-chun (Archery) and Leung Hoi-wai (Basketball) have completed Level 2.

Apart from the two speakers for the Seminar, the Mainland China delegation also comprises officials from All-China Sports Federation, General Administration of Sport of China and the Administration of Sport of various provinces and municipalities.

Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Coaching Committee and the All-China Sports Federation with the funding from the Hongkong Bank Foundation, the annual Seminar aims to provide a platform for overseas experts (especially those from Mainland China) and local coaching professionals to exchange ideas.