The first 18 graduates of a sports education degree course were honoured at a ceremony at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Sha Tin.
Among the graduates from the five-year Bachelor of Education in Sports Training programme were local athletes Chiang Wai-hung, Tang Hon-sing and To Wai-lok, and wushu champion Cheng Ka-ho.
The programme, organised by Beijing Sports University (BSU) and administered by the Hong Kong Sports Development Board, aims to provide coaches and athletes with an opportunity to obtain an academic qualification to embellish their professional development in sport.
Among the course subjects are sports psychology, history, administration and biochemistry.
Guest-of-honour at the ceremony, Anissa Wong, acting permanent secretary for home affairs, gave the government's strong approval for the programme.
'The profile of Hong Kong sport is certain to be raised when students apply what they have learned from this course locally,' said Ms Wong.
