En Garde: To Kwa Wan Sports Centre Set for Transformation into World-Class Fencing Hub
Hong Kong to Build Fencing Hall by 2025
Release date: 2024-09-04 22:48
The Hong Kong government is planning to build a fencing hall, with the goal of implementing it in 2025. The authorities are initially inclined to convert the To Kwa Wan Sports Centre into a fencing hall.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said that it is studying the addition of fencing facilities to the existing sports centre and hopes to complete the project next year. Hong Kong team fencing athletes have achieved great results in the two Olympic Games, prompting the government to provide a sports centre with fencing training and competition equipment.
Chief Executive John Lee said early last month that he hoped the fencing hall would be available next year. The To Kwa Wan Sports Centre was opened in 1987 and has a multi-purpose main field that can be used as two basketball courts or eight badminton courts, as well as a fitness room.
Some citizens have expressed mixed opinions about the plan. Student Kai said: “It’s good to change it to a fencing hall. My sister and I like fencing a bit, so we plan to learn it.” However, Ms. Wu said: “I don’t support it. Usually we come here to do aerobics, so it’s not that convenient. If it’s farther, we have to go to Hung Hom or Kowloon City.”
A former Hong Kong team fencing representative estimated that the area of the multi-purpose main field of the To Kwa Wan Sports Center can meet the training needs. Former Hong Kong fencing team representative Chan Cheuk-him said: “A fencing track is 14 meters long, including a one or two meter buffer zone. The referee must be placed in the middle of the fencing track.”
Sports Institute Vice Chairman Cheng Wing-shun said: “A new fencing hall has advantages because the overall supporting facilities can be planned. A brand new fencing hall may take time because it seems that there are many government projects waiting in line, so rezoning existing places is a method to consider.”
He added that the fencing hall has many devices, which are difficult to dismantle frequently and then used for other purposes by the public, but it can be used for fencing training by the public. Considering the limited space, a new hall can be built in the long run.