Summer vacation activities have been held in Macao for almost ten years. In 2002, enrollment by Macao’s juvenile students exceeded 56,000. They participated in 149 sports, recreation, and cultural activities. More than 20,500 participants enjoyed 58 sports organized by the Macao Sport Development Board, working with 396 coaches and assistants. The cost to holding summer vacation sport activities is over 2.8 million patacas, with receipts from entry fees totaling 1.05 million.
Summer vacation activities help our young students to make good use of their summer holiday. They participate in activities beneficial to both mind and body, recognized as worthwhile by society, parents and the students themselves. Since they are the hope of the future, our young people are very important. They are well-worth the energy, dedication, and hopes extended to them by organizers, co-organizers, and coaches.
Another outcome of summer vacation activities is the detection of talented youths who later, with the proper foundation, may be asked to contribute as reserve forces for Macao’s sports teams. For example, most members of Macao’s synchronized swimming team are talents from swimming classes held as part of summer vacation offerings. Cheong Pui Si, who won third place for Macao in karate competitions during the XIV Asian Games in Pusan, had her first experience with this sport during summer vacation activities many years ago.
The 21st century, characterized by its knowledge-based economy, requires that new generations meet new challenges. We need to foster in our young people enhanced creativity, the ability to flexibly adjust to new situations, and the capacity and desire for lifelong learning. To better meet the needs of this new era, we are making efforts to improve the quality of summer vacation activities.
Since summer vacation activities are held in diverse and scattered places, the quality and effectiveness of the activities, to a large extent, depend on the teachers and assistants sent by the relevant sports associations. To help improve the quality of instruction, organizations are trying to give basic training in teaching and psychology before asking coaches and assistants to lead summer vacation activities. Some associations train coaches to elevate their technical knowledge of particular sports. All these efforts will continue to raise the quality of summer vacation activities.
New sports are also being offered such as dual combat events (taekwondo and boxing). Self-challenging events have also been included (karting, style cycling, field orientation, and sports climbing). Other events foster intellectual skills and precision thinking such as I-go, Chinese chess, and bridge. Still others focus on social skills and a cooperative team spirit such as basketball, volleyball, football, and handball. We anticipate that the addition of these new sports will help to promote healthy physical and psychological growth of our young people.
Opportunities and environments created through the cooperation of parents, societal members, and the joint efforts of co-host organizations and coaches can help our youths as they reach to fulfill their potential while improving their overall quality of life and health. Participation in summer vacation sports, recreation, and cultural activities paves the way for our youths’ personal as well as our society’s future development.
Note: Regulations regarding class cancellations due to weather:
Hurricane Signals:
* If the Macao observatory is broadcasting No.1-or-above wind at 12:00 noon, afternoon class activities at sea will be cancelled.
* If the Macao observatory is broadcasting No.3-or-above wind at 8:00 a.m., all morning classes will be cancelled; if No.3-or-above wind at 12:00 noon, all afternoon classes will be cancelled.
Storm Signals:
* If the Macao observatory is broadcasting a black storm signal at 8:00 a.m., all morning classes will be cancelled; if it does so at 12:00 noon, all afternoon classes will be cancelled.
* If the Macao observatory is broadcasting a red storm signal at 8:00 a.m., all outdoor morning classes will be cancelled; if it does so at 12:00 noon, all outdoor afternoon classes will be cancelled.
