Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui highlighted Hong Kong's capacity to host para sports events to bring together athletes from across the nation to exchange skills and build friendships.
Her remarks were made during the Hong Kong Paralympic Day on Sunday (Oct 5) -- an annual Para sports event -- which aimed at introducing a variety of para sports trials and exciting activities to the public.
Apart from the complimentary access to over 20 para sports, an exhibition on the development of para sports was also held at Kai Tak Arena to feature medals claimed by Hong Kong athletes and the torch from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Law stressed the upcoming National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympic Games -- which will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau -- as not only the major sporting occasion for persons with disabilities in China but also a demonstration of the spirit of cooperation and inclusion among the three regions.
She further emphasized the importance of public support for the integration of people with and without disabilities, urging citizens to attend and support the Paralympic events.
She also underscored the government's focus on a dual-track development pathway for athletes, which includes planning for their post-retirement careers.
That included initiatives such as the Para Athletes Career and Education Program, which provides employment assistance for their "second career," alongside educational support and life skills training.
Last year, Hong Kong Paralympic Day attracted over 3,200 participants, making it the largest and most popular Para Sports event in Hong Kong.
