Portraits of National Sports Association

Ms Chau Chiu Nam
President of the Hong Kong Triathlon Association

A triathlon includes swimming, cycling and running. When we talk about this sport, we immediately think of athletes who scale hills, dive into seas and defy hardship. In fact, triathlon is not only about endurance. It is also about speed, wisdom and fierce competition. It challenges the limit of physical and mental endurance. What is the state of development of this sport in Hong Kong? In this issue, we have invited the new president of the Hong Kong Triathlon Association, Ms Chau Chiu Nam, to talk about the sport and major work of the association.

The President of the Hong Kong Triathlon Association – Ms. Chau Chiu Nam

Active promotion paid off

The Triathlon Association was established in 1984. Its aim is to develop and promote triathlon and related sports in Hong Kong. It is the only official body that organises triathlon, duathlon and other similar sports in Hong Kong. It is a member of the Asian Triathlon Confederation and the International Triathlon Union. It is also affiliated to the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.

In the past 30-odd years, the number of triathlon athletes in Hong Kong has increased significantly. The number of associations that are affiliated to the Triathlon Association increased from six in 2000 to 29 now. The number of its members increased by nearly four times to nearly 2,500. This shows that the promotion of the sport by the association is successful. The number of active triathlon athletes and the support the sport receives from Hong Kong citizens have been increasing.

According to President Chau, extreme sports are being promoted all over the world. Triathlon has become the ideal introduction to extreme sports. A triathlon has many variations. A junior triathlon is suitable for children and can be finished in 30 minutes. The Hawaii Ironman World Championship is an ultimate challenge for triathletes. There is something which meets the needs of athletes of different levels.

Finding new talents and training them

The Triathlon Association spares no effort in training elite athletes. President Chau mentioned that the association organises training programmes for adults and young athletes in different districts with the funding of the LCSD. It hopes to groom elite athletes through grass roots development projects. The association conducts regular selections every year to find potential athletes for its regional squads and the National Development Squad. It provides professional training and all-round support to them. Outstanding athletes may be invited to join the Hong Kong team as elite athletes. The association also actively develops triathlon training programmes for the disabled to foster the message of social integration.
 
In April 2016, the Hong Kong team participated in the Asian Triathlon Championship in Hiroshima, Japan. It did well and won two gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals. They included the gold, silver and bronze medals of the men's youth single event. Moreover, Chu Kin Wah and his navigator Tsang Chun Kit excelled by winning the silver medal in the visually impaired group.

Organising competitions to promote exchanges

With the support of the LCSD, the Triathlon Association hosts between 9 to 11 duathlon or triathlon competitions of various forms every year. The Triathlon Asian Cup held in mid-October is the largest of them. The two-day event attracts more than 1,500 elite athletes from all over the world. It helps Hong Kong athletes experience a high level competition and enables local players in various age groups to see world-class athletes in action.

Active developments and looking ahead

Triathlon is one of the key development projects of the Hong Kong Sports Institute. It has funding from and support of the LCSD. President Chau was once a member of the Hong Kong Triathlon Team. After retiring as an athlete she became a coach of the Hong Kong team and the age group team. She later self-financed her study abroad of a referee and organiser certificate course that was recognised by the International Triathlon Union. She is well aware of the fact that effort and commitment are needed to promote a sport and to get government support and funding. She believes that the popularity of sports in Hong Kong has increased in recent years, which is encouraging. It is particularly gratifying to see more women actively participating in triathlon. She hopes that the funding and support of the LCSD, the support of colleagues in the secretariat and the close cooperation among affiliates and community sports clubs will lead to an all-round development of triathlon sports in Hong Kong, continuing the belief of self-challenge and self-improvement as well as the “Lion Rock Spirit” of steadfastness.