AS Watson Group Hong Kong Student Sports Awards Recognising around 1,000 Student Athletes with Record Breaks

AS Watson Group Hong Kong Student Sports Awards (HKSSA) held the 19th award presentation ceremony at Fortune Metropolis in Hung Hom today. HKSSA is the first and only award programme of its kind in Hong Kong, open to all local schools from primary, secondary, and special schools to commend one sports talent from each school every year. Since 2005, HKSSA has recognised over 16,400 student athletes and has earned a reputation as one of the most magnificent local youth sports awards in Hong Kong. This year, HKSSA recognises 991 student sports elites with participation from nearly 90% of local schools, setting a record for the highest number of participants in the programme’s history.

The award presentation ceremony was graced by Guests-of-Honour, Sze Chun-fai, Jeff, JP, Under Secretary for Education, Education Bureau, and Wong Tak-sum, Sam, MH, Commissioner for Sports, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. They unveiled the ceremony and presented the awards to the student sports elites along with other distinguished guests.

Sze Chun-fai, Jeff, JP, Under Secretary for Education, Education Bureau, delivered a speech at the ceremony, “It gives me great pleasure to have participated in the AS Watson Hong Kong Student Sports Awards presentation ceremony this year, where I was able to share the joy of the awardees. I would also like to express my gratitude to the AS Watson Group for its long-standing support of sports activities in education sector in Hong Kong.”

Sze continued, “The Group has actively fulfilled its social purpose and set a good example for a wide range of corporates. The establishment of the Awards is to recognise students who not only demonstrate outstanding performance in sports but also with good conduct. Looking ahead, I hope AS Watson will continue to promote the development of youth sports in the future, and provide more opportunities for Hong Kong student athletes to showcase their talents.”

Wong Tak-sum, Sam, MH, Commissioner for Sports, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, said, “Hong Kong’s position in the global sports arena has been rising, thanks to the remarkable successes of Hong Kong athletes in international competitions in recent years. They serve as shining examples for many students. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all student sports elites to continue pursuing your dreams, believing in your abilities, and get ready for the challenges ahead. I anticipate witnessing your outstanding achievements in sports, as you bring glory to your schools and Hong Kong.”

Dominic Lai, Chairman of AS Watson Group, said, “HKSSA commends the dedication and success of the student athletes, while also inspiring them to pursue their dreams and passionately engage in sports. I take pride in each awardee and believe that everyone can become a shining star on the sports grounds as long as to adhere their dreams fearlessly.”

Survey Shows Exercise Improves Mental Health
AS Watson Group conducted a survey in April, interviewing 1,434 primary and secondary school students to examine the impact of sports on their mental health. The findings indicate a positive correlation between exercise frequency and stress management capabilities. About 70% of students who exercise daily believe they have a good ability to cope with stress and emotions, in contrast to only 30% of students who do not engage in sports during leisure-time believe that they are capable to cope with stress. Additionally, the data suggests that the more frequently students exercise each week, the more they associate exercise with happiness and self-confidence. Those who exercise more regularly are also more inclined to view sports as beneficial to their mental health.

Lai continued, “The survey report demonstrates that students who do exercises more can enhance their ability to cope with stress and improve their mental health. Therefore, we will persist in advocating sports and wellbeing within the community and schools. We strongly encourage more organisations to initiate events that motivate students to be more active, aiming to cultivate a healthier and more enjoyable lifestyle for students in Hong Kong.”

“YOU ARE STAR” Lighting Up the Future of Sports
With the theme of “YOU ARE STAR”, we invited Lee Ka-man, Carmen, former Asian Games Rowing Silver Medalist and Lau Chi-ming, National Games Karate Bronze Medalist to share their journeys of dedication and challenges with the awardees, encouraging them to persevere in their pursuit of excellence.

To honor the achievements of the awardees, HKSSA presented a special gift to them in recognition. Professional photo shooting was arranged to capture their athletic postures, creating unforgettable memories of their accomplishments in sports. Sports portraits of awardees were displayed at the ceremony to encourage them to be confident and continue their sporting passions. The portraits have also been uploaded at the HKSSA webpage: https://ssa.aswatson.com/.