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27 Aug 2011
Hong Kong hopefuls vow to give their best at WorldSkills and Abilympics

The respective Hong Kong teams for the 41^st WorldSkills Competition and the 8^th International Abilympics, which provide separately platforms for young people and the disabled to demonstrate excellence of their professional skills, are going through tough training in a bid to strike gold for Hong Kong. The Joint Flag Presentation Ceremony was officiated by Matthew CHEUNG, Secretary for Labour and Welfare today (27 August). 
 
Members of the 2 delegations rallied together at the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and received the flag from Mr Cheung who said, “Your efforts will not only land you victory but will also increase the awareness among the public of your talents.”
 
The 41^st WorldSkills Competition and the 8^th International Abilympics are to be held in London and Seoul respectively. Dr NG Tat-lun, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Youth Skills Competition, said although taking place in different cities, the two competitions bore the same purpose of enabling local competitors to showcase their strengths to honour Hong Kong. Ever since Hong Kong took part in the WorldSkills Competition in 1997, we have swept 2 Gold, 1 Silver, 4 Bronze Awards and 25 Medallion of Excellence. Many past competitors have achieved good progress in their professions and studies. Clearly the WorldSkills Competitions give the contestants an opportunity to demonstrate their excellence in skilled professions as well as to learn from others from across the world. Indeed an eye opening experience and a valuable leaning opportunity.
 
This year, Hong Kong will field 12 competitors for the WorldSkills London 2011 in events such as Cooking, Graphic Design Technology, IT Network Systems Administration, Offset Printing, Plumbing and Heating, Wall and Floor Tiling and Beauty Therapy to compete with young elites from more than 50 countries and regions. The biennial WorldSkills Competitions give the young contestants an opportunity to showcase their expertise with a view to promoting vocational education and training. The Competition also encourages exchanges among member countries and regions and young skilled people.
 
Hailed as the Skills Olympiad for the disabled, the International Abilympics is one of the premier events of the rehabilitation sector every 4 years. CHEUNG Kin-fai, Chairman of the organising committee of the Hong Kong Abilympics remarked that the Abilympics was the Olympics of Abilities, which brought together people with disabilities from all over the world for the promotion of their abilities in the international arena. Hong Kong first joined the International Abilympics in 1981 and has since been a staunch supporter of this meaningful global event. This year is the 30^th anniversary of the Hong Kong and International Abilympics. In the past 7 International Abilympics, Hong Kong swept 19 Gold, 20 Silver and 16 Bronze Awards.   
 
The Hong Kong team for the International Abilympics consists of 25 members who will compete in 23 categories including Computer Assembly, CAD-Architecture, Dress Making, Poster Design, Floral Arrangement, Photography, Painting and Embroidery. CHEUNG Kin-fai specifically urged the competitors to make the best use of this opportunity to broaden their horizon and sportsmanship and exchange with their counterparts from across the globe.

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