Hong Kong’s athletes need more academic flexibility if city is to repeat Tokyo Olympics success, expert says
- Biggest hurdle for potential stars of tomorrow is pressure in classroom, says former Hong Kong Sports Institute chief
- Professor Chung Pak-kwong wants help for athletes to complete education as government source reveals discussions over degrees ongoing
More flexibility should be introduced to secondary schools and universities to avoid athletes dropping out or taking longer to complete their degrees, the former chief of the Hong Kong Sports Institute and a government source have said.
Professor Chung Pak-kwong highlighted the importance of cultivating athletes with potential when they were in primary and secondary school, saying the biggest hurdle was academic pressure.
Chung, who now works in Baptist University’s sports department, said some sportsmen and women dropped out of secondary school to become full-time athletes, raising questions as to why development in the two areas could not be simultaneous.
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“The city should consider whether a greater degree of flexibility can be offered to students with sports potential,” he told a radio programme on Wednesday. “For example, can we allow them to finish the six-year secondary school curriculum in eight years?
“For individual athletes, can teachers give them extra time to make up for their missed lessons or offer special exam arrangements for them? If this flexibility can be offered, it can help train young people.”
