MSAR 15th ANNIVERSARY | Professional sports could be further developed

The community’s willingness to play sports might have increased, but involvement in professional sports can still be further developed, experts suggest.  Following a review of the past 15 years and the development of sports on a local level, experts have highlighted Macau’s participation in major sporting events such as the Lusofonia Games.
The president of the Sports Development Board (ID), José Tavares, highlighted the three main sport events which have taken place in the last decade and a half -the East Asian Games (2005), Lusofonia Games (2006) and the Asian Indoor Games (2007).
“Throughout that period the government invested in sports facilities as well as in training personnel (…) Nowadays we can welcome any competition [here],” he said.
The government’s investments were “the first step” in creating the sports policies currently in place in the city, according to Mr Tavares.
“After these sport events were held here, we realised that the “Sports For All”  program and professional sports were closely connected. This was an important political decision, and we continue to develop it to this day, as we wish to give back to the population the investment we’ve made,” he stressed.
He added that Macau citizens have gained access to new sports facilities created specifically for international competitions, such as the Olympic swimming pool. Mr Tavares believes that such a strategy remains adequate. “We highlight  the ‘sports for all” because we believe that this is the basis of professional sports.”
The number of participants in all activities promoted under the “Sports For All” program increased from 78,600 in 2000 to 360,000 in 2013, representing a 300 percent increase, the former Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Cheong U, revealed.
The ID head acknowledged that Macau faces has had to work hard to succeed in international competitions, as it is not a member of the International Olympic Committee. Nevertheless, he recalled that financial support has been provided in the past years to professional athletes competing at a higher level. A complementary financial program was created for athletes that are retiring, he added.
According to José Tavares, in addition to these first steps that have been taken to further develop professional sports in Macau, there is a need “to create a solid base” for the development of Macau’s young athletes. “It does not produce results right away, it’s a long-term investment,” he stressed.
“That is why we are investigating the launch of another project to ensure the further development of our youth [playing sports],” he said. ID’s president acknowledge.  However, the territory clearly faces demographic challenges, as its young population is decreasing.
Mr Tavares highlighted the development of local sports associations and the role they have played in bolstering Macau’s participation in Asian sports federations. He recalled that Macau is still far from reaching Hong Kong’s position in terms of professional sports.
The former Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U recalled that with more sporting facilities, measures taken to raise the competitive levels, improvements to sports training and sports medicine have helped develop professionals sport in Macau.
Professors from the Macau Polytechnic Institute’s School of Physical Education and Sports agreed that to improve Macau’s results in international sports competitions, adequate sports training facilities are needed. Currently, the government is developing a Multi-Purpose Sports Center. “It is very important to provide good sports facilities [so that athletes have access to] professional training and can improve their performances in competition,” said professor Kenny Ng San Fan.
“Over the past 15 years, Macau has achieved great results, especially in the leisure sector and the ‘Sports For All’  program. We took a big leap. But in professional sports, this can be developed further” the IPM’s school director Yang Zai Huai, stressed.
They believe that Macau’s potential in professional sports could mainly be unveiled in individual sports or new sports, such as “wushu” (derived by traditional Chinese martial arts), swimming or artistic cycling.
Macau won a gold medal for the first time at the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010.  MDT/Lusa