Remember the refreshed mind and overall reinvigorated vitality after exercising? Sports can not only enhance physical fitness and mental wellness, but they can also boost motor skills, self-esteem, emotional regulation and resilience, cognitive function, and social skills. This is why sports are especially beneficial for children with special educational needs (SEN).
On 15 March, 13 HSBC Scholars and Hub for the Future members participated in the inaugural Inclusive Sports Day, hosted by RunOurCity Foundation Limited and initiated by SENSportsAlliance, which looks to pool together the resources of founding member organizations to build a sustainable platform for SEN youths, to increase their confidence and realize their potential through sports, and to develop an inclusive education ecosystem.
Seeing Sports Through an Inclusive Lens for SEN Youths
Coordinated by one of our HUB Leaders, Daniel Lee, HUB members volunteered as event helpers at the Inclusive Sports Day to provide assistance at activity booths and guide participants through games and wayfinding, while interacting with SEN youths and their families to ensure they could safely enjoy the day.
Aiming to promote and raise public awareness on the importance of movement and sports for SEN youths and to create a safe environment for them to enjoy movement in, the Inclusive Sports Day also planted a seed for advocating for the right of every youth to enjoy movement and sports, regardless of their background and abilities.
Collectively hosted by the Alliance’s founding members – RunOutCity Foundation Limited, Zone A, Snaildy, Hong Kong Special Needs Sports Institute (HKSNSI), and HK Roller Skating School – the event featured a wide range of sports activities such as Boccia, Mölkky, Karate, Brompton Cycling, Virtual Cycling, obstacle courses, roller skating, VR Fencing, rope skipping, exergame, stretching, and mobility.
To ensure holistic wellness, there was also a booth for Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment consultation.
In addition to sports activities, a panel discussion convened subject matter experts and academic professionals, as they weighed in and exchanged knowledge on the benefits of sports for SEN youths, with topics including the mental and physical health of people with disabilities; the importance of multi-sports; sports participation for holistic children development; making sports accessible for SEN youths with technology like AI; as well as ways to integrate a 10-minute exercise regimen into daily routines.
HSBC Scholars Witnessing Inclusion in Action
As Hong Kong’s first-ever Inclusive Sports Day concluded with success, HSBC Scholars and HUB members reflected on their participation and the event itself with gratitude and learning.
“What initially drew me to the Inclusive Sports Day was its uniqueness — an event that brings together people from diverse backgrounds to experience sports in a truly inclusive way,” said Daniel Lee, recipient of the 2021 HSBC Vocational Education Scholarship 2021 and the Hub Leader who coordinated the Hub’s participation in the event. “My connection with the organizer also made this experience personally meaningful, as it opened up potential opportunities for Hub scholars to get involved.”
Daniel continued: “This event highlighted the growing societal support for the SEN community and how collective efforts can bring together previously dispersed resources into a more integrated support network. Beyond physical activity, it offered participants a chance for self-discovery — enabling them to build self-discipline, confidence, and self-esteem over time through positive sporting experiences.
Equally important, it provided caregivers with a valuable opportunity to de-stress under the guidance of professionals trained in both sports and SEN education. For Hub members, the event provided a new perspective on inclusivity in sports and deepened our understanding of the SEN community. It also created a platform for ambitious scholars to connect directly with practitioners from the sports industry, opening doors for future collaborations.
From this volunteering experience, I was reminded that sports are a powerful and universal language,” said Daniel. “Whether someone is SEN or not, sports can engage people positively and bring out the best in them.”
Also finding the volunteering experience rewarding was Wendy Jian, recipient of the 2025 HSBC Greater Bay Area Scholarship. “This past Sunday, I traded my usual therapy room setting for something far more dynamic. As a SEN therapist, my work often involves structured, one-on-one sessions focused on building specific skills. So, when I volunteered at the Inclusive Sports Day, I was curious to see their philosophy of using ‘the power of running to help youth find their focus in life’ applied on such a grand, community-wide scale.
From the strategic precision of Boccia to the playful skill of Mölkky and the rhythmic joy of rope skipping, every activity was an open invitation. There were no barriers to entry, just a genuine welcome to experience the joy of movement. This, I realized, is inclusion in action. It is not just about making a sport accessible; it’s about creating a space where a young person feels empowered to simply try, to connect, and to belong.
The event reinforced a vital lesson for me: therapeutic progress doesn’t only happen in clinics. It happens on playgrounds and starting lines. It happens when families feel welcomed, when young people are seen for their potential, not their diagnosis, and when an entire community comes together to say, ‘This space is for you.’”
