[11^stJune– Hong Kong] Hong Kong’s student-athletes have been coping with dual challenges of outstanding performance in sports while simultaneously pursuing their academic excellence, especially for the exam-sitters. In light of this challenge, Hong Kong Athletes Career and Education Programme (HKACEP) of Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC)joins hands with Ontario eSchool (OeS) to launch the first Ontario eSchool Athlete Scholarship Program, which will provide a one-year free Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) online program to outstanding Hong Kong athletes. This program will provide a multi-pathway for athletes by helping them balance their academic work and sports and thus their long-term career development.
 
A briefing session was held at the Lecture Theatre, Olympic House on Tuesday, 11^thJune, 2019 co-hosted by HKACEP of SF&OC and Ontario eSchool. Dr. Herman HU, SBS, JP, Vice-President of SF&OC cum Chairman of HKACEP Committee andMs. Jodi ROBINSON, Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macaocame to support as the guests of honors to launch the first Ontario eSchool Athletes Scholarship Program. Dr. Herman HU delivered a welcome remark in the Briefing Session and addressed the difficulty for student-athletes to balance sports and academic development. Thus, the Ontario eSchool Athlete Scholarship Program was launched for providing them an alternative for obtaining high school qualification. With OSSD, athletes can pursue their studies in Hong Kong, North American and Worldwide Universities. Ms. Jodi ROBINSON delivered a speech as one of the guests of honors. She welcomed the establishment of the Ontario eSchool Athletes Scholarship Program by HKACEP of SF&OC and Ontario eSchool. An athlete-student Miss SHING Cho Yan, who is an elite athlete in hurdling,shared her learning experience at Ontario eSchool in the briefing session. She found that the high flexibility of online program helped her to maintain balance between regular training and study. 

The Ontario eSchool Athlete Scholarship Program will sponsor up to eight outstanding student-athletes who have completed or are about to complete Form 5 education (or equivalent). The applicants must be nominated by National Sports Association (NSA) and screened by selection panel according to their sports achievements, commitment to the scholarship and suitability to participate in the program. The panelists include Dr. Herman HU, SBS, JP,Vice-President of SF&OC cum Chairman of HKACEP Committee, as well as representatives from HKACEP and Ontario eSchool. 
 
Interested athletes can sign up for one online orientation class and submit the application to their respective NSA for verification and nomination. Deadline for NSA nomination is 2^ndJuly, 2019. Details and forms are available on: https://www.oesasia.org/athlete-scholarship-program?lang=tc. The results of the awards will be announced at the Sponsorship Award Ceremony to be held in August 2019 (tentatively).