Fairer policies would really prompt citizens engage in sports
Dear Editor
I refer to Mr K.H. Lee's letter "Asian Games held in the city would prompt citizens take on a sport as hobby" published on SCMP 9th Jan, 2011.
Mr Lee argues that the money spend in the event won't be a white elephant since more people will enjoy sports after the Games. If it is the case, I would very much like Mr Lee to show us why the expected effect didn't take place after the 2008 Olympics, 2010 East-Asian Games held by our city and the recent Guangzhou Asian Games and why should a Asian Games held by our city make any difference. The cause of citizen's lack of interests in sports is not that we do not have enough international events (in fact we have plenty), but the lack of comprehensive sports policies.
First is the undemocratic management of various sports associations. A friend of mine, who is a champion elite athlete, is recently forbidden from taking part in the Asian Games and the Olympics due to power manipulation by the Hong Kong Fencing Association. Her career, along with her coach's, is forcefully ended. Similar incidents happens again and again over the years to football players, judo combatants and different fields in the Sports sector yet there still isn't an independent complaint institution that athletes can appeal to. Under such concrete fact it is difficult for us to believe an extravaganza can bring about hope for Hong Kong Sports.
Second the failure in Hong Kong Sports policies reflects the failure in Hong Kong general policies. When a government upholds the spirit of "small government, big market", she really disqualifies herself from saying anything ideal such as "promoting healthy lifestyle". When farmers are forced out of their living environment and shop owners are loosing their livelihoods and office clerks are over-worked plus underpaid, don't talk to them about "style", they don't even have lives. Perhaps the most intensive sport they can afford to do is chasing the bus or jumping into the train. And please kindly do not ask them to cheer for the prosperity they can never share, or celebrate when there is nothing to be happy about. Citizens will enjoy sports when the society is fair then we finally have the time, and the community to engage in.
Finally, holding a party is not necessarily happier than going to one.I am not an elite athlete and I don't need a locally held game to feel important. In fact all I wish for as an average youngster who loves cycling and trekking, is "nothingness" or "absence". The absence of XRL will result in a less crowded West Kowloon where I can ride my bike; the absence of Mr Li Siu Kei (Uncle Four) in Nam Shang Wai will preserve me an incentive to jog and the absence of Property Market Hegemony will mean I don't have to work double shift to pay my rent and finally have the night to myself. I would love to take up a sports as a hobby and even a profession if there is fairer policies in the future.
Yours Sincerely,
Holok Chen
CUHK student, post-80s activist
中文標題為編輯所擬。