For half a century since 1972, the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (HKPC&SAPD) has been performing a dual role — on one hand, as Hong Kong’s national member (NPC) on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) , and on the other, as a national sports association (NSA) devoted to the development of sports for the physically disabled.

In order to delineate these two distinctive roles, the Hong Kong SAR Government assisted HKPC & SAPD with its segregation into two independent entities; namely the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKPC) which represents Hong Kong in the international sports arena, and the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (HKSAPD) which is tasked to develop sports for the physically disabled.

As these two separate entities came into being on 1 April 2022, we bid farewell to 50 years of “One Association Two Roles “. To me, a long time veteran in disabled sports and President of both organizations, this metamorphic change is more a logical division of labour than segregation. For as we move forward in our Paralympic journey, the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee will continue to partner with the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (HKSAPD), the Hong Kong Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability (HKSAPID) and other local sports bodies to promote Paralympism and inclusivity. All of us have one common goal in mind — to enhance our athletes’ interests and wellbeing as we enable them to excel and shine.

On the international front, the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee will be in close liaison with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) and respective international sports federations. In addition to organising and coordinating the Hong Kong China Delegation’s participation in international multi sports games, we shall work in tandem with relevant regional and international sports entities to take forward the Paralympic Movement and promote the interests of Para athletes, worldwide.

Together, we shall “Build an Inclusive World with Splendour in Para Sports”

Jenny Fung
President

Photo credit : Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled