Sports exchange between people with disabilities in Hong Kong and Shenzhen

(Hong Kong ∙ March 3, 2024) The second Hong Kong Sitting Light Volleyball Competition, organized by the Department of Health and Physical Education, the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and the Hong Kong Light Volleyball Association, and co-organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth and GDCD Association Limited), was successfully held on March 3 at the Lai Kok Community Hall in Sham Shui Po. Athletes with physical disabilities from Hong Kong and Shenzhen showcased their sportsmanship in the games. The Hong Kong teams achieved the second and fourth place in the competition.

Dr. Leung Ka Man, Associate Professor at the Department of Health and Physical Education, EdUHK, attended the prize-giving ceremony and expressed her commitment to promoting sitting light volleyball, increasing public awareness and concern for disability sports, and looking forward to organizing more future activities. Mr. Fu, Chairman of the Shenzhen Disabled Persons’ Federation, expressed his hope that such events would provide a better communication platform among athletes with physical disabilities.

Sitting light volleyball, developed by Dr. Leung Ka Man and her team, is a team-based sport suitable for people of all ages and with disabilities. Importantly, as there are not many team sports available for people with disabilities these days, sitting light volleyball helps increase their opportunities for social interaction in sports and contributes to their psychological well-being. Research conducted by Dr. Leung and her team has also found that sitting light volleyball significantly improves the cardiovascular endurance and enjoyment of physical activity among people with physical disabilities while reducing their fat mass.