Volume 11, Issue No. 2 (Serial No. 22) Olympic Inspiration

WEI Jizhong
President, Beijing Olympic Economy Research Association

[Abstract] The idea of the Humanistic Olympics originated from the preparations for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Their essence is to respect others and ourselves. The ultimate goal of Olympism is to educate and nurture the world’s young people in order to achieve peace and well-being for all humankind. It is our responsibility to campaign for Olympism and work towards a harmonious society both in China and in the world through the opportunity and platform provided by the Olympic Games.
Keywords: Humanistic Olympics; Olympism; humanism; peace; human dignity

TSANG Tak Sing
Secretary for Home Affairs

[Abstract] The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government appreciates the functions and importance of sports in society as a whole, and has been collaborating with various sectors of the community to promote sports development on all fronts in Hong Kong along three strategic directions, namely, to promote sports in the community, develop elite sports, and make Hong Kong a major location for international sports events. This article highlights the sports development in Hong Kong during the past 50 years, elaborates on the current sports policy, and sets out a vision for its development.
Keywords: sports policy in Hong Kong; promote sports development on all fronts; community sports; elite sports; major sports events

HUI Chun Fui Victor
Chairman, South China Athletic Association

[Abstract] Sports advance human potential and create cultural significance via exercise and social activities. Sports are social, popular, multifunctional, and associated with our daily life. With these characteristics, sports culture evolves along with the society. Riding on the multimedia boom, the community, elite, and business tiers of sports culture can now integrate and be marketed professionally, consolidating the efforts of the government, the sports sector, and commercial sectors under one roof. It is through this that sports culture is tied up with the economical rhythm of the society.
Keywords: sports culture; professional marketing; community; elite training; commercial

Frank H. FU
CHEUNG Siu-Yin
Hong Kong Baptist University

[Abstract] A brief review of the current research findings on perceived barriers and contributors to participation in sports and physical activity is presented, with special references to data collected from Hong Kong schools. The present paper outlines the findings of a survey conducted in early 2008 of 977 local secondary school students with regard to their attitudes to and participation in sports and physical activities, perceived physical competence, and task and ego orientation. It was found that gender and age were important factors and walking was the most popular physical activity. In order to cultivate a more positive attitude towards sports and physical activity, increased participation, and better life satisfaction, various stakeholders-the SAR Government of Hong Kong, parents, sports associations/clubs, and school teachers/administrators-must work together to provide more incentives for less affluent families, for girls, as well as for upper secondary school students to become participants.
Keywords: active lifestyle; quality of life; school children; sports participation

Yvonne Y. K. LAM
Principal, Jockey Club Ti-I College

[Abstract] Since September 2000, schools in Hong Kong have begun implementing the system of school-based management (SBM), and physical education (PE) has been established as one of the eight Key Learning Areas under the current education reform. Schools are now expending greater efforts on training athletes and deploying greater resources to help student-athletes realise their potential. Jockey Club Ti-I College is a pioneer of SBM in PE and other subjects and has accumulated invaluable experience in nurturing athletes. Many of its graduates have become top athletes in Hong Kong, and budding athletes are being nurtured every year. This paper attempts to briefly describe the uniqueness and special features of Jockey Club Ti-I College and what the school has done to nurture student-athletes under SBM in Hong Kong.
Keywords: school-based management; curriculum; elite athletes; special programs

Trisha LEAHY
Chief Executive, Hong Kong Sports Institute

[Abstract] In the world of high performance sport, it has become increasingly clear in recent years that individual success at the elite level is a function of the complex interplay of multiple factors acting in systemic concert. Apart from individual talent, and expert coaching to facilitate that talent, achieving and maintaining “an edge” over competitors requires a comprehensive support infrastructure to minimise risk and maximise results. An effective support infrastructure is one that is underpinned by a biopsychosocial paradigm. Within the elite sport sector, whose objective is to develop high performance athletes, and specifically within the servicing infrastructure, which facilitates such development, the biopsychosocial paradigm is particularly informative. This article highlights the role and function of integrated support services to elite sport from within the biopsychosocial model. I will propose five characteristics of an integrated support system for peak performance, which form the basis for best practice at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
Keywords: biopsychosocial support; elite sport

LI Chung
Associate Professor, Department of Creative Arts and Physical Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education

[Abstract] This paper discusses and interprets the historical development of school physical education in Hong Kong. It aims to review its development, and evaluate and postulate its value and contributions to the development of students and society. The paper also outlines its development from simple physical training to a systemic, theoretical, accredited, and scientific academic discipline; from the past, to the present, and into the future.
Keywords: physical education; school physical education; physical education history; physical education development

WONG Chiu Keung
P.E. Panel, Hong Kong True Light College

[Abstract] If schools cultivate students’ interest in sports through physical education lessons, organise a variety of extracurricular activities, and develop the culture of sports in order to make sports popular on campuses, then eventually students will form the habit of doing sports. Both schools and parents emphasise students’ academic results; therefore, it is quite difficult to promote sports in schools. However, if we can enhance students’ morals and attitudes, and improve their time-management skills through sports participation, without affecting their academic performance, then parents will be willing to let their children take part in sports.
Keywords: physical education lessons; training arrangement; interschool competition; Sports Society; sports culture in schools

LAM Woon-kwong
Chief Executive Officer, Equestrian Events (HK) of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad Company Limited

[Abstract] The year 2008 will be a memorable one for Chinese people everywhere, since the Olympic Games will be staged in Beijing for the first time. Hong Kong is honoured to be one of the hosting cities responsible for hosting the equestrian events. This article highlights the preparation and promotion work for these events.
Keywords: equestrian; dressage; jumping; eventing; torch relay

CHOO Hyekyung
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, National University of Singapore

[Abstract] This study explored the prevalence of drug use and examined the effects of parent-child relationships on drug use among foreign-born adolescents in Singapore, in comparison with Singapore-born adolescents. From a nationally representative sample of Singapore secondary school students, 181 foreign-born and 1,308 Singapore-born adolescents were analyzed. Bivariate analyses to explore the relative prevalence of drug use and logistic regression analyses with each group to test the effects of relationship with parents were conducted. Foreign-born adolescents showed a significantly higher prevalence of drug use than Singapore-born adolescents. The results also revealed that foreign-born adolescents’ drug use was inversely influenced by the positive relationship with their father, but not their mother, while the opposite was the case for Singapore-born adolescents. The implications for parenting strategies for foreign-born adolescents who use drugs in Singapore are discussed.
Keywords: adolescents from immigrant families; drug use; parent-child relationships

ZHANG Lin-hua
Shanghai Sunshine Community-Youth Affairs Center Jiading Branch

[Abstract] From our social service experience, we have discovered that the growth of community youth is closely related to their family environment, including the structural characteristics of the family of origin, the ideology and consciousness of the parents, the cultural and educational level of the parents, the behaviours of the parents, the relationships among family members, parents’ awareness of their children’s education, and parents’ methods of bringing up their children. Some undesirable behaviours and ideologies of young people are brought about directly or indirectly by their families. Therefore, we apply structural family therapy in our service and hope this will change young people by changing their family structure.
Keywords: community youth; family; structural family therapy

CHOI Chi U
Principal, Estrela Do Mar, Macau

[Abstract] Since 2002, after the Macau Government opened up the gambling industry market, the economy has been growing. By 2006, the gross income from the gambling industry of Macau had already surpassed that of Las Vegas, making Macau the biggest gambling city in the world. Behind the scenes, in 2006-2007, only 68.8% and 76.1% of the students could complete their junior secondary school and senior secondary school respectively. Many are believed to be attracted by the high salary of casinos. Today, Macau is affected both positively and negatively by this gambling culture and becomes a gambling society, while families are on the frontline. As the teaching and raising functions in Macau families are becoming weaker, constructing an erudite pattern of family teaching and raising is the best way of helping teenagers face the challenges of the gambling society. This paper will discuss how family teaching and raising methods can help teenagers deal with adversity in a gambling society and encourage them to develop an erudite society.
Keywords: gambling society; erudite society; teaching; teenagers; raising methods

TANG Wai-hung
Supervisor, Neighbourhood Services, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
Esther YEUNG
Unit-in-charge, Family Life Education Unit, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups

[Abstract] Family Life Education Service in Hong Kong has been rendered by social service agencies for nearly 30 years. Over the past decade, rapid changes in Hong Kong have created great challenges and threats to local families. It is necessary and timely for service providers to review the target groups, service mode, as well as effectiveness of the existing Family Life Education Service, and make appropriate changes. This article portrays the recent experiences of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups in professionalising and specialising its Family Life Education Service.
Keywords: family life education service; parent-child conflict mediation; family mediation

D. O. TORIMIRO
Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Member, College of Research Associates, Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, United Nations University Member, Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa
V. O. OKORIE
Doctoral Student and Graduate Assistant, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
M. O. OJUBANIRE
Graduate Student, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

[Abstract] We investigated the socioeconomic push-and-pull correlates of Nigerian farm youths’ involvement in the transportation business using a pretested interview schedule to elicit information from 141 farm youth randomly selected from a list of 2,512 registered transport operators in the study area. The study established, among others things, that farm drudgery, intermittent farm income, lack of credit facilities, and steady daily earnings from transportation were correlates of farm youths’ involvement in transportation. An inverse relationship between participating in farming and involvement in transportation explained the continuous involvement in the latter at the expense of the former, which constitutes a depletion of the agricultural labour force as well as a bane for food security. Hence, providing credit facilities, improving farming technologies, and ensuring a constant farm income could reduce the influx of farm youth into transportation at the expense farming, thereby forestalling an imminent food crisis.
Keywords: farm youth; transportation business; food security

Chung-Yi HU
Department of Social Work, Shih Chien University

[Abstract] In 1997, the Ministry of Education began to provide school social work programmes in Taiwan. Different cities utilise different practice models of experimental programmes. These patterns are called “On Campus,” “Out Reach,” and “Contract Out.” Because of their different development backgrounds, cities have distinguishing characteristics. This paper compares these three models and provides suggestions for future practice.
Keywords: school social work; practice model

Wei-wei Vivian HUANG
Professor, Department of Radio and Television, College of Communication, National Chengchi University

[Abstract] This paper is to examine the Internet literacy and the cognition on Internet content rating of teenager’s parents in Taiwan. This research used secondary analysis of two databases to explore (1) the Internet literacy of teenagers’ parents in Taiwan; and (2) whether there is any difference with regard to Internet literacy between general parents and those who have taken Internet safety training courses. The results show that parents who have been trained in Internet safety have higher cognition on Internet content rating than do general parents, but not on Internet literacy. Parents apply Internet content rating to their children only. As time went by, the legal and ethical perspectives of the Internet literacy of the parents decreased. Obviously, Internet safety training courses for parents should be combined with parenting education as well as life education.
Keywords: information literacy; Internet literacy; Internet safety; Internet content rating