In recent years, Hong Kong athletes with disabilities have demonstrated their perseverance and will in a number of international competitions, inspiring Hong Kong people and bringing more positive energy to the community. The quadrennial Asian Para Games will be held in Hangzhou in October, which will further enhance Hong Kong people's awareness of disabled sports and people with disabilities. In view of this, Noah's Ark Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKGC) have co-organised the "Big Sports Day" this year, which not only warms up the long-awaited Asian disabled sports scene by organising a variety of disability sports programs, but also encourages young people with disabilities, their families and caregivers to regain the joy of sports as the epidemic gradually eases, and promotes the spirit of "equality and inclusion of PHAB and health". The event was successfully held in Ma Wan earlier and the participants enjoyed the event with disabilities and their families.

Now in its second year, Sun Hung Kai Properties Acting Senior Director Kwok Ping-kong, President of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKG) Le Ma Kit-han, six-sided Paralympic Gold Medalist So Wah-wai, Assistant General Manager of Noah's Ark Hong Kong, Mr Ip Chung-yan, and principals and student representatives from four special schools were invited as guests to kick off the Sport Day. In addition, about 150 special school students and their families were invited to participate; "PHAB" represents the disabled and able-bodied respectively, and "BIG" promotes mutual understanding and respect and acceptance, so as to achieve a true "two swords together" and create a barrier-free caring and inclusive society.

Noah's Ark promotes the spirit of eight loves and brings all walks of life to promote the integration of the disabled and the healthy

Apart from the government and the sports sector, the business community is also actively promoting PHAB inclusion. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sun Hung Kai Properties Senior Director Kwok Ping-kong said, "Sun Hung Kai Properties, which has always adhered to the philosophy of 'Building Homes with Heart', has been committed to supporting various sports activities, encouraging public attention to physical and mental health, and promoting the spirit of 'sport for good'. Sun Hung Kai Properties has also built Noah's Ark, a non-profit-making community development project based on the eight spirit of love, including love for life, love for family and love for the earth, to create an Edutainment theme park, which is not only one of Hong Kong's tourist attractions, but also shoulders the mission of giving back to the community." He hoped that through the "PHAB BIG" Sports Day, not only to enhance the understanding of the local disability sports in the community, but also to encourage everyone to practice the spirit of "PHAB Inclusion" in their daily lives, respect and understanding each other, and build a barrier-free and inclusive society.

Officiating guests, Sun Hung Kai Properties Acting Senior Director Kwok Ping-kong (sixth from left), Hong Kong Paralympic Committee President Mar Kit-han (sixth from right), six-face Paralympic gold medallist So Wah Wai (fifth from right) and Assistant General Manager of Noah's Ark Hong Kong Ip Song-yan (fifth from left), kicked off the "Disability Partnership" Sports Day with representatives of participating schools.

Let the public contact the disabled sports and discover the new blood of the Hong Kong team

The President of the Hong Kong Paralympic Games, Ms Vivian Fung, thanked Noah's Ark and Kwok Pingjiang for their support of disability sports, once again giving students from different special schools the opportunity to experience disabled sports. She said, "The Hong Kong Paralympic Games has always been committed to promoting the development of disability sports, hoping that the event will arouse students' interest in disability sports and discover more elite athletes, and hope that participating students can enjoy the activity process and see everyone in disability sports in the future."

Officiating guest, Ms Fung Ma Kit-han, President of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee, said that the Hong Kong Paralympic Games has always been committed to promoting the development of disability sports, hoping that Hong Kong can cultivate more elite athletes, and hopes that participating students can enjoy the activity process and continue to participate in disability sports.

Experience Diverse Disability Sports Encourage people with disabilities to think outside the box

Witnessed by the participants, the guests and representatives of teachers and students jointly officiated at the unveiling ceremony of the event. They transformed themselves into torchbearers, simulating the torch relay in the prelude to the Paralympic Games, passing the flame to each other through electronic torches, and taking a group photo with all the participants after the ceremony. The ceremony allowed everyone to embody the values of courage, perseverance, motivation and equality in the Paralympic Movement, and promote the concept of "Hands on the Disabled, Opportunities in My Hand".

Officiating guest, Sun Hung Kai Properties Senior Director Kwok Ping-kong (fifth from right), cheers on the students attending the event.

A number of disabled sports experiences officially began after the unveiling ceremony, and professional professors from the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Disabled, the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Intellectually Disabled, the Hong Kong Rowing Association and the Hong Kong Karate Association of China led students with disabilities and their families to experience boccia, Special Olympics miniature tennis, Special Olympics golf, indoor rowing and para karate. The participants showed the spirit of experimentation, engaged in various activities, and felt the fun of sports. Officiating guests then presented commemorative medals to the participating students at the closing ceremony, allowing them to experience the moment when the athletes won the award. Finally, participants can enjoy a free visit to many attractions of Noah's Ark and a buffet lunch, completing a meaningful journey.

See highlights from the day of the event:

Looking forward to Ma Wan Park Phase II provides opportunities for young people to show their talents

Since its opening in 2009, Ma Wan Park has co-organised more than 1,700 life education and charity activities with 10,500 NGOs in Hong Kong, benefiting more than 74,<> disadvantaged people, many of whom are disabled and underprivileged youth.

Kwok mentioned that the second phase of Ma Wan Park, which is expected to start operation in the third quarter of next year, will implement the direction of the first phase to preserve the original natural scenery, preserve cultural features and education, and revitalize Ma Wan Old Village into a project that integrates elements of natural ecological environment, art, history and culture, and will introduce diversified art studios, provide experiential art activities, and plan to have special outdoor activity venues, such as field camps and leisure farms, as well as retail and dining venues. He added that he believed that Ma Wan Park Phase 2 will become another new tourist attraction in Hong Kong, promoting the economic development of the district and providing opportunities for young people to start businesses, find employment and develop their talents.

Officiating guest, Sun Hung Kai Properties' Senior Director Kwok Ping-kong, revealed that Ma Wan Park Phase 2 is expected to commence operations in the third quarter of next year, providing young people with opportunities to start businesses, find employment and develop their talents.

(Information and photos provided by the customer)