2007

去年把一些2004及06年的電郵公開,造這頁時為了省時,很多來龍去脈都沒有交代清楚。這兩天突然心血來潮,就寫几行字交代清楚,也當作Blog來作個回望紀錄。

綜觀2004年上海世界錦標賽之行,前後的風風雨雨,正好暴露了香港龍舟界不光彩的一面。願大家一同努力,今天認清問題之後,精神抖擻的面對,以行動來改變現況。

2007 再回望•吐真言

2004, 06 電郵公開

 


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( 當年情 - 之一 ) 2007.4.27 

一年前把這些電郵公開,原本目的都不過是給有關方面一個鞭策的壓力,為龍舟界再進一言,推一把而已。今天回望,似乎目標勉強達到。有些人的確要被人踢一下才會動一動。

觀乎2006年公開這些電郵之時,香港的所謂政府和奧委會唯一認可的總會,在十年內只辦過二次教練班,二次裁判班,總算比起2004年時已有寸進,( 兩項的第二次的班都在2006年搞的 。)其他基層推廣活動和訓練班也在十年內一隻單手就屈指可數。但作為一個總會,一個肩負起推動有歷史意義和民族背景的傳統運動的總會,一個從香港旅遊協會繼承了國際賽發源地主辦單地位的機構,這樣可以令人接受嗎?香港國際賽由70、80年代幾十隊外隊參賽的盛大場面到今天只得幾支外隊的冷清清光景,又有誰會說能令香港人自豪呢?這樣一個不想培訓和重視教練、運動員和裁判員的總會,這樣得不到屬會支持和認同的總會,是不是國際体壇的奇景異像、還是香港体育界的恥辱,大家心裡有數。這是去年公開電郵的「遠因」。可能當時用詞重了一點,不過,不是這樣,我們應選擇繼續沉默接受,默許它是無問題嗎?

其實去年還有一個「近因」。2004年上海辨世界賽,2005年澳門辨東亞運動會,凡有國際賽,均可由各地總會推薦人選到埸參加國際裁判考核,因為國際龍聯高層人士反正在埸。可惜,香港龍協沒有任何安排,或派人出席,裁判組內也除了主委之外也根本沒有人得到知會,縱使在香港和澳門考試比起飛去歐美遠遠便宜得多,大家自費也絕對無問題。到2006年初,收到 IDBF主席親自發出的群發電郵,重申 IDBF 缺乏人手,尤其裁判,故几位巨頭願在2006年週遊列國,尤其為亞洲區考核國際裁判,還提到當年4月的新加坡和6月的澳門和香港國際賽 (都是週末舉行 )。這訊息也很快在當年的 IDBF 國際通訊中提及。可惜香港龍協到5月時仍沒有把這訊息傳達予本地裁判,真令人費解。就是這樣小弟在5月中再去信几位國際巨頭 ( 副本故意抄送予香港龍舟界的要人 ),以螳臂擋車,無奈地提出了以上的費解和一些疑問。這就是以下2006最後一封英文電郵的因由。 

當時問了以下基本問題:

Do we love the sport? Do we want to promote the sport? Does HKDBA treasure the umpires and officials as an important asset? What are the harms and drawbacks to have more umpires getting internaitonal accreditions? Why is it so difficult to organise umpires training and to promote existing umpires to international standard? What is going wrong? Should we keep silent again and wait for another 2 years? .....Do we need more friends or more foes...?

( 我們愛這運動嗎 ? 我們想推廣這運動嗎 ? 香港龍協有珍惜過裁判和工作人員作為會方的重要資產嗎?令更多人獲得國際認可資格有什麼壞處呢 ? 為什麼組織裁判訓練和提升現有裁判到國際水平如此艱難? 現在有什麼不妥在發生呢 ?我們是否應該繼續再保持沉默,再等兩年嗎? ...... 我們需要更多朋友還是敵人......? )

可惜,結果,香港真的一如既往,沒有抓機會在香港或鄰近的澳門為本土裁判提供一個提升水平和資歷的機會。

本來已經意興闌珊,如果當初不是收到 IDBF主席的親自發出的電郵,小弟根本就不會知道如此底蘊和荒謬之處。

到了2006年九月初,澳門要辦亞洲錦標賽,很可能是以上兩年的投訴和不滿已到達了國際龍聯也不能再忍的田地,同樣七月中仍沒有消息,已搖頭歎息;到8月份才得知香港終於姑且派人出席 (兩年前就知有這機緣啦,為何總會不部署 ? 費解 !)不過,不幸的是,有人擅自更改國際龍聯裁判服務滿一年即可參加國際裁判考核的規定,要求香港裁判員要有五年服務才能被「欽點」。龍協又一次擺明小圈子。還好,欽點也好,起碼香港「終於」現在有超過十位國際裁判員見得下人。之前一直只有四位,之後十年內一直沒有再進展。很多人都知,如果不是當時同月國際獨木舟聯合會在台灣搞龍舟賽兼國際裁判試,國際龍聯和香港龍協為了要抗衡,也不會太著緊。

難怪從前曾當過多屆香港國際賽總裁判和早期曾為龍舟發展幫了大忙的老前輩說,不要再提這個會了,「簡直是笑柄!」

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到了2007年,不長不短的水上活動季節又展開了,龍協仍沒有搞教練班和基層推廣活動和訓練班的通告。2007年3月搞了一個裁判班。但這次卻奇怪,報名表格上不必填任何龍舟賽經驗。到開課前一天,參加者要自己打電話上去才知道被取錄了。有趣吧。

有人會以為小弟無得被欽點就是是酸葡萄。自己諗啦。明眼人就明o架嘞。

           

 


   

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( 當年情 - 之二 ) 2007.4.28

2004年十月小弟可以自費去上海世界錦標賽當工作人員,原本也不是自己想出來,不是要爭取什麼,原本根本沒有想過「有資格」去上海。話說那年七月與國際龍聯 (IDBF) 技術委員會某外國委員在外國茶聚,人家對香港情況早就看不過眼,天南地北時問小弟有沒有興趣去上海參加國際裁判考核。小弟說根本沒想過,因為怎會有資格,因為過去五年 或可能更長時間總會從未搞過裁判班,小弟根本「沒有方法」成為所謂合格裁判。

當時對方說,「這是荒謬之至。鍾先生身為 IDBF 技術委員會委員,不久前還身為主委。為什麼香港一直沒有裁判訓練班,一直沒有人去考國際裁判?以你過去在赤柱搞這規模比賽的經驗和聲譽,只要電郵予國際龍聯主席和技術委員會主席列明自己的經驗和為何不能成為本土裁判,他們很大機會讓你考試,何況現今 IDBF 這樣缺乏人材。問下沒有壞事,何妨一試?」

回港後一個月,人家來電催促,小弟才正式發電郵予國際龍聯主席。很快就得到很正面的回覆。到九月中想到要請假可能是唯一的難關,當時曾去電龍協秘書處Cathy小姐,大方的知會已發生的事和計畫,並問可否用香港代表名義拿一封會方的證明。當然她果斷拒絕。以會方一貫作風,其實意料中事。小弟就去函問 IDBF秘書長可否有一封正式函件證明小弟是出席世界錦標賽當賽事工作人員 ( Race Official ),對方也竟立即答應和行動。這信後來由校方轉交政府批核。到九月尾十月初,這件事令香港方面地震。Cathy 立即向 IDBF 發砲說:小弟一不是合格本土裁判,二從來沒有在香港國際賽當工作人員,只是兩次在香港國際賽幫手當「義工」( helper) ,強烈反對云云。第一點意料中事,第二點就令人啼笑皆非。結果 IDBF 主席讓步,在出發前在電郵中向小弟道歉,但表示很歡迎連同赤柱龍舟協會主席和秘書一同到上海「幫手」,他們的確需要。

就這樣,到十月頭小弟才開始向幾位香港和國際要人用電郵交代立場和指出更多歷史景象。當時心想,即使真的到去到上海不能考試,這件事能令 IDBF 和香港龍協反省和產生壓力,甚至震盪,有所改善,已經達到了目標,也可能這完成了自己的歷史任務吧。也何況,國家要辦如此世界錦標賽用得著自己,就是義務也是光榮。

就這樣照樣成行。身歷其境,感慨良多,但總體來說很享受上天的安排,所見所聞獲益良多,利用空檔拍了以下二百多幀照片及有聲短片放上網,事後竟得到 IDBF 在國際通訊中轉載和推薦,喜出望外。最大的收穫還是與各地龍舟界朋友有很多交流,趁機訪問了很多運動員、教練、裁判和國際龍聯委員,耳聞目睹很多龍舟新氣象、新格局,回港後就揮筆寫了一篇頗詳實評論 【新世紀龍魂】,在本地龍舟界中流傳開去。

在上海時還有一些插曲。( 一) 赤柱三位代表每次走過賽會秘書處,常給當地組委會人員質問「為何香港只得你們三個人上來?為何香港不派隊來?」每次都語塞。(二) 大會場刊清楚寫明我們三個人的工作崗位,也是排在國際比賽官員一欄。(三) 其實香港總會的不濟在國際間早已人所共知,以下一事可見一斑。一天早餐時與IDBF 的其中一位會長為鄰,他鼓勵小弟要盡快考國際裁判資格。並說,如果他們再不在香港給你先考本地裁判資格,飛過來我會給你加拿大國家級裁判資格。

 當然後來上海之行發生的事國龍聯給予香港有關方面很大壓力,2005年小弟已正式考獲香港本土合格裁判資格。

     


(當年情 - 之三 ) 2007.4.29

很多人會以為,小弟一直只談裁判問題,無非想為自己爭取成為什麼什麼,也會有人故意暗示小弟是是為了踩低人家來抬高自己;今天發現甚至有人放風說是因為利益所在。小弟不想自辯,因為相信公道自在人心,明眼人一定看得出。外國龍舟界有關香港惋惜之詞早已不絕於耳,只是香港本土傳媒和大眾反而不知底蘊而已。小弟這樣公開這些資料,是出於一個基本會員善意的鞭策,推動會務的基本義務。如果大家忍了十年仍繼續默許這樣的情況繼續,如果一個總會不願接受會員批評,只會隱惡揚善、不想跟會員和屬會溝通、用人唯親、閉門造車、忌才、連基本的基層訓練班也不願搞,國際賽一年比一年不國際化,如果會員仍然噤若寒蟬,這樣對整個運動的發展有幫助嗎。

之前談了限多裁判問題,其實這只是因為裁判問題 (一) 有較多實質資料在手;(二)較易明白;(三) 最明顯和爆炸性。其實,香港總會的其他問題在龍舟界中已廣為人知。教練班十年內搞了多少次?教練研討會十年內搞了多少次?基本技術訓練班搞了多少次?辦公室長期沒有職員接電話,國際賽行政混亂,發給外國的訊息遲疑不決。2004年難得國家承辦世界賽香港卻不派隊也不派工作人員支持,只有鍾sir 一人赴會,又沒有向屬會交代半句?作為一個總會,一個受政府資助,受納稅人的血汗錢的体育總會,是否可以接受?

如果以資源不足為由來推託,那麼類似的体育總會又如何?看看棒球、投球 (netball)、冰上運動、野外定向、空手道、門球 、射箭、體操.....還有很多很多,同樣是資源不足、同樣是在國際大賽中成績平平,只是偶爾拿奬,因而得不到很多資助,但人家的總會可以定期有各類和各級的教練、裁判和運動員的訓練和研討會和各級比賽,甚至可以出版月刊或季刊。理由是什麼呢? 

小弟曾經在体育總會當執行秘書,也當過体育記者和体育教師,對這些問題比較熟識和敏感,所以感到更有義務把問題提出來。如果有人反而批評小弟只說不做,那麼可以也告訴那人,小弟曾向龍協掌舵人當面提出過意見不得要領,也曾出手為比賽救亡。

既然有人誤會,就給大家說個故事,先從2001年說起。那年小弟首次主動找鐘先生說願幫忙在香港國際賽擔任工作人員 ,就被安排在城門河召集處負責檢錄工作。到2002年季初約三月份已直接電話向鐘先生說小弟願再幫忙。他要到六月比賽前一個星期才找小弟,那年在天馬艦舉行,重回維多利亞港,大家比較緊張。不過,在裁判及工作人員最後會議時那位原本要負責安排找一些在起步舢舨上面執龍尾的學童 (boat boy) 和其他學生義工 (student helper)的所謂老拍擋突然在會中發難,玩花樣,臨時說不會帶一個學生來。會後鍾先生即場問我可否立即召集我校的學生頂上,小弟說學生上舢舨就不能,但可以幫忙立即找街坊或舊生搭路。小弟還多口問他,錄影方面和其他岸上義工夠不夠,他才叫小弟找人,原來連 student helper 和學生跑腿都沒有。結果,一星內期找到五、六十人出現支援這次比賽:家兄找來香港業餘無線電通訊會有攝影技能的朋友負責自備器材拍攝比賽錄像,還有家姐和妹妹,連同三十個中學生、舊生和朋友。小弟的同事關sir也做足兩日。當時小弟也同樣被派擔任處負責召集處檢錄工作。其實早上報到時一開始埋位,小弟就當著其他人面前問清楚鍾 sir :「我穿藍色還是黃色衫?」他立即第一反應是:「黃色」。黃色就是給裁判及正式工作人員 (Race Official)穿的。之前一年在城門河他給我綠色反領衫也一樣是這樣分的 ,不是義工 ( helper) 穿的。這代表了什麼?小弟在短時間內找來這麼多人幫助會方救亡,之後又幫忙為國際龍舟新聞組 (e-group )供稿回顧和唱好香港國際賽,又代表了什麼?

還有一個插曲,家兄及他的無線電發燒友朋友也愛攝影,就趁機拍了二百多張高質照片放上網。不知何故當年大會指定攝影贊助商放飛機,但龍協一直沒有公布,也沒有提及家兄及他朋友的相片連結作為補救。這代表了什麼?到2004年上海世界賽前香港龍協秘書向國際龍聯堅持小弟兩次幫手都「不是」賽事工作人員 (race official),只是義工 (helper) 而已 ,又代表了什麼?

大家自己看看這些連結吧:

http://www.angelfire.com/games4/lssfc/dragonboat.htm

 http://www.pbase.com/vr2zgc/intrl_dragon_boat_2002 

http://www.pbase.com/vr2io/international_race2002

大家唯有繼續 keep our fingers crossed ( 合指禱告 )。

一提起筆原來有這麼多東西好寫。一寫就寫了三天。

 

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 (當年情 - 之四 ) 2007.5.3

還有一點很久沒有說出來,今天終要開口:香港龍舟協會主席鍾先生身曾擔任 IDBF (國際龍聯)技術委員會委員過十年,四年前還一直身為主委。那麼為什麼香港一直沒有人為本土總會搞裁判訓練班?一直沒有人推薦其他人去考國際裁判?還有教練班也一樣情況。有什麼理由可以令人接受?只有他一人有什麼什麼資格而獨大,是好事嗎?以他在IDBF 技術委員會出任主委期間 IDBF修改賽例禁制亞洲流行的站立 (半跪式 )比賽姿勢,他有為亞洲運動員爭取過什麼呢?今天小弟終要開口揭露更多真相,仍是對事不對人,開口的其中一個原因是因為今年開始,連香港本土由龍協主辦的大小比賽也要禁制用站立姿態,但這明明是亞洲龍聯仍是容許的技術,也是亞洲精英隊伍爭勝的關鍵技術,也是中國人划龍舟由來已久承襲下來的傳統。那又是什麼道理?今天不開口,明天說不定國際龍聯強行要求亞洲龍聯也依循時,是否為時已晚?

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(當年情 - 之五 ) 2007.5.12

自從2001年起小弟在香港龍舟協會主辦的香港國際賽幫手開始,很多人問過小弟,「這樣的一個會 (或這樣的一個人),你為什麼還要幫它 /他呢?」小弟都是答:「不是要幫它/他,是要幫香港。無人想看見香港衰、想看見香港國際賽在人前丟臉。」看看2002年發生的事就會明白。其實另有一點沒有說出來。是不想香港龍舟界四分五裂。沒有團結,加上這樣唔爭氣,中國人的國技只會更進一步給外國人把持。到今天,這兩態度都沒有改變。

最重要的是,今天,很多現象根本已到了不能坐視的境地。2004年那篇【新世紀龍魂】只是拉開了序幕,龍舟界的普遍不滿到了今天已到了沸點。

 

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2006 電郵公開
 
(  2006.8.20 )  
 
Dragon Boating in Hong Kong- Something funny in the field of so-called governing body
香港龍舟界的奇景異像
 
 
 
 
 

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It first start with a case of IDBF accredition at World Champ in Shanghai

Sorry for me to expose these emails after keeping my mouth shut for 2 years. Hope these emails can serve as stimulation for a positive driving force to change. We are all just fed up with it. No time to write an article, so just use these existing texts/ old emails- i leave it to the readers to judge whether the governing bodies of Hong Kong dragon boating is doing the job they entitled, or are they creating a shame for the sport or a laughing-stock for HK sports as a whole.


( who is who - you must know them before you read on)

Mike Chung: Chairman of HKDBA for over 10 years, former Chairman of IDBF Technical Commission. Examiner for most IDBF race officials of Asia (except Mainland China)- but he never offer HK officials a chance to take the exam in the past 10 years.

Mason Hung : IDBF official, founding member HKDBA and still official for the HK Tourism Board; now has become the vice-president of IDBF.

Mike Thomas : Chairman of IDBF Technical Commission (UK);

Mike Haslam : Executive President and Chairman of IDBF (UK);

Bryan Hartley: Secretary of IDBF (UK)

Cathy Chung : Secretary of HKDBA (resigned in 2005)

Raymond Woodcock: Chairman of Dragonboats Australia, member of IDBF Technical Commission


 


 

 

 

2004

 

[ before setting off for Shanghai World Champ ]

From: Edwin Hou
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004
To: Mason Hung
Cc: Ramon Leonard Woodcock
Subject: [Fwd: Re: IDBF accredition at WC in Shanghai]]


Dear Mr Hung,

As advised by Mr Ray Woodcock, it is my pleasure to write directly to you regarding the exam in the World Championships in Shanghai later this month.

Copied below is the mail i have received from Mr Bryan Hartley and there is no problem he accepted me and Mr Wong for the exam there. Actually the situation in HK is very very strange and being a "dragon head" for the sport , HK should have done much much more to promote the sport of dragonboating. However, we have been waiting for coaching and umpiring courses for years and nothing is in offer whatsoever from HKDBA or even from the Amateur HKDBF. It is our pleasure to grab this chance to get the proper qualification and such great experience of helping out in the WC. Contribution to the sport of dragonboating from the Stanley taskforce is well-known all over the world and we simply hope to go a step further.

In my mail  to  Mr Mike Thomas in 16 August i wrote my experience as this:
 
"I have been the race secretary for the Stanley Dragon Boat Races (www.dragonboat.org.hk, and www.angelfire.com/on/dragonboat)
since 1993 and within the period aslo take an increasingly active role in the race sub-committee (technical, with Royal HK Yacht Club as main task force), race control panel, commentating and PA (bilingual), and web-design team. In the past few years also take part in the hk
international race as official at the marshal and led a team of student helper from my school in the  Stanely  Champ during Tuen Ng Festial, the Stanley Short Course Invitational  and  the HK International . Now i am also coach of  2 teams. This year for the first time i acted as Race Controller for the Stanely Short Course Invitational <http://www.sahajayoga.org.hk/dragonboat_04_short/br_contents_04_ed.doc>
(1 May), when we invited HKDBA to serve as the backbone for the Race Control team.

Our Chairman Mr Alson Wong is well-known in hk and received several nearly full page newspaper coverage this year for his coaching and management success for the mega event which we still keep it as an one-day championship. He has been Race Director for the last 15 years. Under his leadership and due to our hard work the event has attracted vast public attention and 153 entries this year.

It will be our great honour to participate and offer our help for the WC in Shanghai, and at the same time receive the IDBF accredition. "


Furthermore, Mr Hung, I would like to highlight my participation in the HK International Races. In both years 2001 and 2002 i acted as "Race Official" at the marshalling point  ( first year partner is Sunny Lau, second year Wong Tin Tak <http://www.pbase.com/vr2io/image/2672252> ).
It was in 2001 i first met Ray Woodcock in Shing Mun River. Then in year 2002 under short notice of just one week  the urgent request from Mr Mike Chung was responded with my greatest pleasure and i successfully called up 50 volunteers to serve as student and adult helpers, camera crew, logistic helpers at the control tower and, plus also 16 paid boat-boys. This is well documented in the International e-group and i have created a web page for it http://www.angelfire.com/games4/lssfc/dragonboat.htm, my brother and his friends also created several professional standard photo albums (Unfortunately the HKDBA never set hyperlink to these sites) please take a look http://www.pbase.com/vr2zgc/intrl_dragon_boat_2002 and http://www.pbase.com/vr2io/international_race2002
Then in 2003 the hk int'l race was canceled due to SARS; In 2004 Cathy Chung invited me and my students again and i accepted it with full support from the headmaster and my colleagues ( subject of tourism) and it was even listed in the summer activity timetable of the school .
Unfortunately afterwards HKDBA deferred the race for one month and i had to take study tour to Perth in that period.

Also you may see pictures of Officials "from HKDBA" in the Stanley Short Course Invitaitonal 2004 plus student helpers' reflection articles in the special site i have created http://www.sahajayoga.org.hk/dragonboat_04_short/index.htm (click Officials)

To conclude, even there is no proper training course offered, it is lucky that we have such a big event of over 130 teams in Stanley for Tuen Ng Festival ( even our other  event the new Short Course Invitational we attracted 20 to 30 teams in the past 2 years), it is also lucky that we have David Sorton as our chief judge and the Yacht Club plus the Sea School who gave us lots of advise and guidance. It is also fortunate that i myself have been trained as a qualified Physical Education Teacher (though now i specialise in English teaching) and have experiece in many sorts of races and sporting events.

Thank you for your kind attention and looking forward to receive your favorable reply.

Yours sincerely

Edwin Hou
Secretary
Stanley Dragon Boat Championships (www.dragonboat.org.hk)
Secretariat: 96 Stanley Main Street, Stanley, Hong Kong
Personal URL: www.angelfire.com/hi4/hkbad/hou.htm
Mobile Phone : 852-92083049
Email:
 

 

Webmaster's note:  

1. A few days after the above mail, the Secretary of the HKDBA told IDBF in the mail that in the past few years edwin acted as only a "helper" , NOT a "race official" for the HK International race.  What a remarkable and impressive remark that we should say hip hip hurray.

2. in 2005 edwin and alson completed training by HKDBA and  properly recognized as "National Official in Honk Kong"

 

 

 


From: edwin hou
To: "mike" <thomas.mike@xxxxxxxt>
Cc: "Mike Haslam" <MikeHaslam@xxxxxxx>; "Bryan Hartley"<bryanhartley@xxxx.co.uk>; <alson@xxxxx.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 3:59 AM
Subject: |^AD!G IDBF accredition at WC in Shanghai


Dear Mike

Thank you for your letter. The situation is noted. And we would like to follow the normal procedure to get the accreditation and would be happy to see the system function well. It is good for the dragon boating as a sport. We also respect the points of view of Cathy and can understand her feeling. I active informed her early this month of my trip to Shanghai, as there is nothing to hide, and have heard of her view. However, it is a pity and we are reluctant to point out the fact that we have never heard of any course or training offered in HK in the last five years or so. It is also a complaint we have heard of very often in HK. That is why we would like to not just offer our service to the WC on Chinese soil, in the land where DB is originated, but also to grab the chance of sitting for exam once I heard of in late July this year. My letter recently to Mason copied below tells the background, and experience for myself and Mr Alson Wong. Hope it does not cause much trouble to you. We understand that, as mentioned in the IDBF handbook ,that DB is a new sport and confusion may arise.

 

Thank you for your kind attention and wish DB can develop well world-wide.

Best regards,
Edwin hou
 


 

Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Subject: Re: IDBF accredition at WC in Shanghai
 

Dear Edwin

Thank your for reply and I have read your comments with interest. I have received a further email from HKDRA raising concerns about your possible examination as an IDBF Official whilst not being recognised as a National Official in Honk Kong.
I intend to discuss the matter further with other members of the  IDBF Competition & Technical Commission in Shanghai.
It is now more unlikely that we will be able to offer you the opportunity  to undertake the examinations in Shanghai. I look forward to meeting you in Shanghai and share with us the opportunity of working and learning together as a team in the development of Dragon Boat racing.


Kind regards

Mike Thomas

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[ after the event]

Subject: Re: IDBF accredition at WC in Shanghai
Date: Wed, 03 Nov 2004
From: Edwin Hou
To: mike <thomas.mike@xxxxxxx>
CC: Bryan Hartley , Mike Haslam
Dear Mike and Bryan

On behalf of the Stanley Dragon Boat Assn, may i first voice our apology for all the troubles caused in Shanghai. It was because we were given the wrong impression that we still have the change to fight for it that made us over-reacted a bit and disturb your job for the WC.  We were very regretful for our reaction.

Anyway, we really appreciate all your support, inspiration and expertise. We really look forward to join hands with you in the future and learn from you.

i am planning to write a Chinese article for local newspapers and our web site regarding the "new trends" surfacing out and/or established during the WC, need your help and comments for more idea input. Could you think of anything worth mentioning? Besides technology, one point is the Breast cancer event got "normalised" as official events. One point i will also mention is about the distribution of strength for medals, but there is still no bulletin in the qp web site for such. May i requrest for the 2 charts? (detail medal winners for each event and the bill board for the highest no. of medals)

later this week i will put the digital photos on-line and keep you informed.

with all the best wishes

Edwin

 


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Stanley Dragon Boat Races + umpire training
Date: Fri, 12 May 2006 01:33:18 +0800
From: Edwin Hou
To: MikeHaslam
CC: DSORTON, dragonboat@hongkong.cxx, HKDBA , Mike Chung <chchung@xxxxxr.com>, Thomas.Mike@xxxx, Bryan Hartley, mah@xxx.com
References: <266.6f7872d.313f41b5@aol.com>

 

Dear Mr Haslem, and all dragonboat friends

Thank you  all for the support. It is a bit too much to hold the passion not to write something tonight.

It is mixed feeling  to read the recent IDBF newsletters again (congratulation for the new site idbf.org) which repeatedly gives the message again and again that there are not enough international umpires. Mike Haslem's  recent mails to some dragonboat officials also reflects the same thing.
However, if you guys are ready to travel to HK or Macau to run courses and exams, why HKDBA mentions nothing to the members, nor organise something for us.

Right before Shanghai 2004 Cathy the HKDBA hon sec opposed Alson and myself from Stanley to take part for the exam there with the rationale that HKDBA would rather send a "group" of the HKDBA's umpires to Germany the following year in World Champ (2005) to take the exam in a more organised and appropriate way. Well, however, it did not materialise. What makes other umpires and official more angry was that when Macau hosted the East Asian Games in Sep 2005( with dragonboat first time in a multi-sports games ) but at last found out  IDBF top officials showed up , then there were no ratiionale for us to see not to send HK umpires for exam when it was just something  next door, on top of that the event was run at the weekend - so convenient for everyone.

OK, we wait, again, and say nothing to complain.

How about this time in 2006, when Singapore is already over, in silence here, and HKIDBR is just less than 3 weeks ahead. How about Asian Championship in Macau in coming Sep, or even World Club Crew Champ in Toronto in Aug. Should there be any info?

Could we ask the very basic questions. Do we love the sport? Do we want to promote the sport? Does HKDBA treasure the umpires and officials as an important asset? What are the harms and drawbacks to have more umpires getting internaitonal accreditions? Why is it so difficult to organise umpires training and to promote existing umpires to international standard? What is going wrong? Should we keep silent again and wait for another 2 years?

Mind you guys, the next ICF Dragonboat Racing World Championships will be organised in  Taipei soon ( from September 26th to October 2nd 2006). Do we need more friends or more foes, to fight this battle with ICF.

Is it time to change not only our mindset, our mentality, but also even the whole paradigm of management style in the sport  in HK ?

Sorry, to have opened the pandora box.

It is a sad story, or say,  a disgrace for hk sports.

Best regards

edwin


 

 

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