PolyU RISports hosts 2024 Symposium on Sports Science and Technology to promote talent cultivation and industry development

The Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and the Department of Biomedical Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) joined hands with the Samaranch Foundation and AquaBloom International Sports Technology Group to co-organise the three-day 2024 Symposium on Sports Science and Technology. Attracting more than two hundred students, researchers and industry professionals, the event featured a number of Olympic and world champions, scholars and industry leaders from around the world to share their latest research outcomes and experiences in the field of sports technology.

The Symposium was held from 30 November to 2 December, with a forum focusing on the theme of sports technology talent and industry development as the highlight of the first day. Six former Olympic or world champion athletes from the Hong Kong, China team, and national teams shared their experiences as athletes, the applications of sports technology, and their personal and professional development after retirement. The distinguished speakers were Ms WANG Xin,  RISports Sports Advisor and PhD student at PolyU, and Olympic Champion in the women’s synchronised 10m platform diving; Ms ZHANG Ping, women’s Olympic volleyball Champion; Ms MA Jin and Mr CHEN Jin, world badminton champions; Ms ZHANG Yuhan, world swimming champion; and Ms Sarah LEE Wai-sze, Hong Kong’s first world champion in women’s cycling.

To promote exchange and collaboration between academic and industry sports institutions in the Greater Bay Area, Greater China and around the world, Prof. ZHANG Ming, Director of PolyU RISports led the establishment of the International Society of Sports Science and Technology. The Society’s inauguration ceremony was held during the Symposium forum. The Society aspires to create pathways that are aligned with international standards and serve as a driving force to accelerate development of the sports technology industry.

Prof. Zhang Ming said, “Hong Kong plays a crucial role as a ‘super connector’ between Mainland China and the international community in the Nation’s innovation and technology development plan in science and technology. With a solid foundation in applied engineering research, Hong Kong must grasp the opportunity to lead the sports industry by promoting talent cultivation, as well as technological development. PolyU has achieved significant results in interdisciplinary research related to sports technology. The University will continue to leverage its strength in education, research, and technology transfer, to drive development of the sports technology industry in Hong Kong and the Nation.”

During the second and third days of the Symposium, scholars and experts from PolyU and academic institutions in Mainland China, the United States, France and the UK shared the latest research outcomes and products in sports science and technology. They discussed how to integrate innovative technologies such as sports biomechanics, intelligent wearable systems and artificial intelligence to enhance training effectiveness.

The Symposium also featured Mr CUI Dengrong, Coach of the national swimming team; Prof. LU Yifan, Professor of sport medicine of the School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation at Beijing Sport University; and Ms Zhang Yuhan, former national swimming team member and world champion sharing their experience of training elite swimmers. Meanwhile, two former Olympic champions Ms Wang Xin and Ms Zhang Ping shared their doctoral research work.

To cultivate talents in sports technology, RISports will collaborate with the Department of Biomedical Engineering to launch a new programme “MSc in Sports Technology and Management” in the coming year. In addition, the BSc (Hons) Scheme in Biomedical Engineering will incorporate a new stream in Sports Science and Technology. PolyU anticipates training hundreds of high-calibre sports professionals every year, injecting fresh energy into the sports sectors both in Hong Kong and internationally. Academic collaboration and talent development with sports elites is one of PolyU’s key focuses. The University provides a wide array of scholarships to support elite athletes in pursuing bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, and is exploring the development of tailor-made programmes to accommodate athletes’ unique needs in study and training.

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