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Sport for Success | Gary Wong | TEDxHKUST


our next speaker is somebody who

our next speaker is somebody who actually managed to utilize sport as a

actually managed to utilize sport as a

actually managed to utilize sport as a catalyst for social change so we’d like

catalyst for social change so we’d like

catalyst for social change so we’d like you to give a massive round of applause

you to give a massive round of applause

you to give a massive round of applause to gary Wong right ladies and gentlemen

to gary Wong right ladies and gentlemen

to gary Wong right ladies and gentlemen I’m Gary Wong from Hong Kong actually

I’m Gary Wong from Hong Kong actually

I’m Gary Wong from Hong Kong actually six years ago my Shanghai Lee’s friend

six years ago my Shanghai Lee’s friend

six years ago my Shanghai Lee’s friend told me he was preparing his tactics

told me he was preparing his tactics

told me he was preparing his tactics talked and then I asked if I could do

talked and then I asked if I could do

talked and then I asked if I could do the same and he arrogantly said no Gary

the same and he arrogantly said no Gary

the same and he arrogantly said no Gary because tan eggs

because tan eggs

because tan eggs was only for those who were invited and

was only for those who were invited and

was only for those who were invited and for those who were good at technology

for those who were good at technology

for those who were good at technology and design and look like entertaining

and design and look like entertaining

and design and look like entertaining unfortunately I was good at Lund of them

unfortunately I was good at Lund of them

unfortunately I was good at Lund of them back then six years ago and it’s instant

back then six years ago and it’s instant

back then six years ago and it’s instant in my my 10th was never something for me

in my my 10th was never something for me

in my my 10th was never something for me until quite recently I will see finally

until quite recently I will see finally

until quite recently I will see finally an invitation from tech edge kuat to

an invitation from tech edge kuat to

an invitation from tech edge kuat to prepare my first hair talk in life I’m

prepare my first hair talk in life I’m

prepare my first hair talk in life I’m now actually very very excited nervous

now actually very very excited nervous

now actually very very excited nervous but where do you like my top or not I

but where do you like my top or not I

but where do you like my top or not I think standing here speaking in front of

think standing here speaking in front of

think standing here speaking in front of you has already been an achievement for

you has already been an achievement for

you has already been an achievement for me right now

I am NOT an end orator like some of you

I am NOT an end orator like some of you but I’m a very honest and authentic

but I’m a very honest and authentic

but I’m a very honest and authentic person who would love to share ideas

person who would love to share ideas

person who would love to share ideas straight from my heart let’s forget

straight from my heart let’s forget

straight from my heart let’s forget about my identity as an Isaac as a

about my identity as an Isaac as a

about my identity as an Isaac as a former management consultant and

former management consultant and

former management consultant and business executive as an new face in

business executive as an new face in

business executive as an new face in Hong Kong politics I am Who I am I just

Hong Kong politics I am Who I am I just

Hong Kong politics I am Who I am I just want to share with you what defines Gary

want to share with you what defines Gary

want to share with you what defines Gary Wong and what exactly fire me up in my

Wong and what exactly fire me up in my

Wong and what exactly fire me up in my life I was born in a puppy yesterday in

life I was born in a puppy yesterday in

life I was born in a puppy yesterday in turn born in the early 80s my father was

turn born in the early 80s my father was

turn born in the early 80s my father was a policeman and my mum housewife we had

a policeman and my mum housewife we had

a policeman and my mum housewife we had low privilege to be over ended with all

low privilege to be over ended with all

low privilege to be over ended with all sorts of paid and unpaid activities

sorts of paid and unpaid activities

sorts of paid and unpaid activities across music art culture and study tour

across music art culture and study tour

across music art culture and study tour actually my only private teacher was my

actually my only private teacher was my

actually my only private teacher was my mum who had not even finished to near

mum who had not even finished to near

mum who had not even finished to near high school fortunately or unfortunately

high school fortunately or unfortunately

high school fortunately or unfortunately there was low Tiger then or Tiger mum in

there was low Tiger then or Tiger mum in

there was low Tiger then or Tiger mum in my family and in fact no one in my

my family and in fact no one in my

my family and in fact no one in my family would expect me not to start

family would expect me not to start

family would expect me not to start working at the age of 17 when I was 15 I

working at the age of 17 when I was 15 I

working at the age of 17 when I was 15 I still remembered my uncle was laughing

still remembered my uncle was laughing

still remembered my uncle was laughing at me

at me

at me when I told him my dream job was being a

when I told him my dream job was being a

when I told him my dream job was being a high school teacher in today’s term I

high school teacher in today’s term I

high school teacher in today’s term I was a kid literally behind the starting

was a kid literally behind the starting

was a kid literally behind the starting line in primary four I was randomly

line in primary four I was randomly

line in primary four I was randomly assigned it by my physical education

assigned it by my physical education

assigned it by my physical education teacher to join the basketball team

back then I was one of the shortest

back then I was one of the shortest among the boys and I realized that I

among the boys and I realized that I

among the boys and I realized that I didn’t have any opportunity to play well

didn’t have any opportunity to play well

didn’t have any opportunity to play well and I spoke with my mum and my mum wrote

and I spoke with my mum and my mum wrote

and I spoke with my mum and my mum wrote a letter to the school and then I was

a letter to the school and then I was

a letter to the school and then I was transferred to the football team

well after a year I happened to be

well after a year I happened to be obsessed with playing TV games and my

obsessed with playing TV games and my

obsessed with playing TV games and my favorite TV games was NBA Live 1995 and

favorite TV games was NBA Live 1995 and

favorite TV games was NBA Live 1995 and then I came to talk with my PE teacher

then I came to talk with my PE teacher

then I came to talk with my PE teacher and I will make a request I want to join

and I will make a request I want to join

and I will make a request I want to join the basketball team again but the fat we

the basketball team again but the fat we

the basketball team again but the fat we made I was one of the shortest among the

made I was one of the shortest among the

made I was one of the shortest among the boys and then my teacher said no Gary

boys and then my teacher said no Gary

boys and then my teacher said no Gary you don’t have you didn’t have a second

you don’t have you didn’t have a second

you don’t have you didn’t have a second chance

chance

chance you created stay in the football team

you created stay in the football team

you created stay in the football team and then life went on I enter a Chinese

and then life went on I enter a Chinese

and then life went on I enter a Chinese medium of instruction high school and

medium of instruction high school and

medium of instruction high school and then officially I got into the

then officially I got into the

then officially I got into the basketball team after serious training

basketball team after serious training

basketball team after serious training by myself in leader Street on the court

by myself in leader Street on the court

by myself in leader Street on the court a joy basketball team and I actually

a joy basketball team and I actually

a joy basketball team and I actually spend my whole high school life with

spend my whole high school life with

spend my whole high school life with basketball I trained five times a week

basketball I trained five times a week

basketball I trained five times a week continuously for seven years

continuously for seven years

continuously for seven years nothing else I didn’t know how to play

nothing else I didn’t know how to play

nothing else I didn’t know how to play tennis I didn’t know how to play

tennis I didn’t know how to play

tennis I didn’t know how to play badminton

badminton

badminton I didn’t even swim well I only played

I didn’t even swim well I only played

I didn’t even swim well I only played basketball I eventually was selected by

basketball I eventually was selected by

basketball I eventually was selected by a professional team to represent the

a professional team to represent the

a professional team to represent the team to play in different districts in

team to play in different districts in

team to play in different districts in Hong Kong and I end up getting the

Hong Kong and I end up getting the

Hong Kong and I end up getting the champion of Hong Kong basketball league

champion of Hong Kong basketball league

champion of Hong Kong basketball league great be and got promoted to the 8a to

great be and got promoted to the 8a to

great be and got promoted to the 8a to gray which is the second tier of the

gray which is the second tier of the

gray which is the second tier of the Hong Kong basketball elite no one has

Hong Kong basketball elite no one has

Hong Kong basketball elite no one has ever considered me as a gifted student

ever considered me as a gifted student

ever considered me as a gifted student back then there were around 240 students

back then there were around 240 students

back then there were around 240 students are in the forum and my ranking is

are in the forum and my ranking is

are in the forum and my ranking is always around

always around

always around 50 or something but I always felt very

50 or something but I always felt very

50 or something but I always felt very proud of myself because of basketball I

proud of myself because of basketball I

proud of myself because of basketball I was relatively more resilient and mature

was relatively more resilient and mature

was relatively more resilient and mature than my classmates and friends I I had a

than my classmates and friends I I had a

than my classmates and friends I I had a strong sense of teamwork discipline and

strong sense of teamwork discipline and

strong sense of teamwork discipline and respect because in sport we have to

respect because in sport we have to

respect because in sport we have to respect each other and I understood how

respect each other and I understood how

respect each other and I understood how to handle failure in a positive manner

to handle failure in a positive manner

to handle failure in a positive manner so all these attitude change my life I

so all these attitude change my life I

so all these attitude change my life I would say that it is because of the

would say that it is because of the

would say that it is because of the power of sports but not examinations and

power of sports but not examinations and

power of sports but not examinations and tests which define who I am what I have

tests which define who I am what I have

tests which define who I am what I have done and what I’m going to do well who

done and what I’m going to do well who

done and what I’m going to do well who on earth would expect a low-income kid

on earth would expect a low-income kid

on earth would expect a low-income kid like me would end up having obtained

like me would end up having obtained

like me would end up having obtained three university degrees being one of

three university degrees being one of

three university degrees being one of the youngest member youngest senior

the youngest member youngest senior

the youngest member youngest senior management member in a listed company in

management member in a listed company in

management member in a listed company in Hong Kong set up a sports charity and

Hong Kong set up a sports charity and

Hong Kong set up a sports charity and stood for the recent legislative council

stood for the recent legislative council

stood for the recent legislative council election in Hong Kong or by the age of

election in Hong Kong or by the age of

election in Hong Kong or by the age of early 30s no one in Hong Kong would

early 30s no one in Hong Kong would

early 30s no one in Hong Kong would expect that as a kid like this it is

expect that as a kid like this it is

expect that as a kid like this it is true there are many people who support

true there are many people who support

true there are many people who support me along my in my life my friends my

me along my in my life my friends my

me along my in my life my friends my parents my teachers sports coaches but I

parents my teachers sports coaches but I

parents my teachers sports coaches but I know there’s one thing which is

know there’s one thing which is

know there’s one thing which is fundamental it is the spirit I gained

fundamental it is the spirit I gained

fundamental it is the spirit I gained through long term sport training it is

through long term sport training it is

through long term sport training it is sports which define who I am

when it comes to social mobility in Hong

when it comes to social mobility in Hong Kong here the traditional wisdom of Hong

Kong here the traditional wisdom of Hong

Kong here the traditional wisdom of Hong Kong parents think quite the opposite

Kong parents think quite the opposite

Kong parents think quite the opposite they think that in order to increase

they think that in order to increase

they think that in order to increase social mobility for their kids they

social mobility for their kids they

social mobility for their kids they require their kids to attend all sorts

require their kids to attend all sorts

require their kids to attend all sorts of tutoring classes in all sorts of

of tutoring classes in all sorts of

of tutoring classes in all sorts of subjects the more the merrier I had no

subjects the more the merrier I had no

subjects the more the merrier I had no such people –is– to do so many

such people –is– to do so many

such people –is– to do so many tutoring classes when I was young and

parents teachers and even students

parents teachers and even students themselves they think sports is just

themselves they think sports is just

themselves they think sports is just like a hobby sport is not important

like a hobby sport is not important

like a hobby sport is not important compared with the academic work and I

compared with the academic work and I

compared with the academic work and I think it is wrong I think it is wrong

think it is wrong I think it is wrong

think it is wrong I think it is wrong and somehow they underestimate the power

and somehow they underestimate the power

and somehow they underestimate the power of sports they look down on those who

of sports they look down on those who

of sports they look down on those who only spend time on art and music and

only spend time on art and music and

only spend time on art and music and sports they only value those who go

sports they only value those who go

sports they only value those who go flying colors on the certificates

according to the well health

according to the well health organisation you know the sports

organisation you know the sports

organisation you know the sports participation rate in Hong Kong it is

participation rate in Hong Kong it is

participation rate in Hong Kong it is 40% while in Guangzhou Beijing Shanghai

40% while in Guangzhou Beijing Shanghai

40% while in Guangzhou Beijing Shanghai so Tokyo

so Tokyo

so Tokyo it was around 60% and around 21% of kids

it was around 60% and around 21% of kids

it was around 60% and around 21% of kids aged from 7 to 12 actually meet the Hong

aged from 7 to 12 actually meet the Hong

aged from 7 to 12 actually meet the Hong Kong physical exercise baseline which is

Kong physical exercise baseline which is

Kong physical exercise baseline which is 30 minutes exercise per day three days a

30 minutes exercise per day three days a

30 minutes exercise per day three days a week only 21% of kids with distended

week only 21% of kids with distended

week only 21% of kids with distended however by contrast 80% of our Hong Kong

however by contrast 80% of our Hong Kong

however by contrast 80% of our Hong Kong kids spent at least 30 minutes on

kids spent at least 30 minutes on

kids spent at least 30 minutes on playing computer games or facebooking or

playing computer games or facebooking or

playing computer games or facebooking or watching YouTube

watching YouTube

watching YouTube how sad it is it is that but sports

how sad it is it is that but sports

how sad it is it is that but sports actually is very powerful in many ways

actually is very powerful in many ways

actually is very powerful in many ways first of all in terms of health outcome

first of all in terms of health outcome

first of all in terms of health outcome you know that each minute we spend on

you know that each minute we spend on

you know that each minute we spend on sport can return seven minutes of more

sport can return seven minutes of more

sport can return seven minutes of more life expectancy it means that doing more

life expectancy it means that doing more

life expectancy it means that doing more spores can be much cheaper than

spores can be much cheaper than

spores can be much cheaper than purchasing a number of life insurance so

purchasing a number of life insurance so

purchasing a number of life insurance so do more sports second sports is the

do more sports second sports is the

do more sports second sports is the great mechanism to create social

great mechanism to create social

great mechanism to create social inclusion to create harmony to make the

inclusion to create harmony to make the

inclusion to create harmony to make the society happier and third sports is a

society happier and third sports is a

society happier and third sports is a great way to build your character and

great way to build your character and

great way to build your character and your professional development according

your professional development according

your professional development according to a research done but in the u.s. in

to a research done but in the u.s. in

to a research done but in the u.s. in 2011 you know that for those who have

2011 you know that for those who have

2011 you know that for those who have active sporting lifestyle on average

active sporting lifestyle on average

active sporting lifestyle on average they earn 7 to 8 p.m. and no income than

they earn 7 to 8 p.m. and no income than

they earn 7 to 8 p.m. and no income than those who don’t play sports at all so

those who don’t play sports at all so

those who don’t play sports at all so I’m just going to tell you there is a

I’m just going to tell you there is a

I’m just going to tell you there is a positive correlation between sports and

positive correlation between sports and

positive correlation between sports and social mobility to those money-minded

social mobility to those money-minded

social mobility to those money-minded Hong Kong parents and Friends if you

Hong Kong parents and Friends if you

Hong Kong parents and Friends if you want to be rich you need to have

want to be rich you need to have

want to be rich you need to have physical and mental strength if you want

physical and mental strength if you want

physical and mental strength if you want to have physical and mental strength you

to have physical and mental strength you

to have physical and mental strength you will need to have a sporting lifestyle

will need to have a sporting lifestyle

will need to have a sporting lifestyle that is why in 2012 I decided to do a

that is why in 2012 I decided to do a

that is why in 2012 I decided to do a long-term sports long-term social

long-term sports long-term social

long-term sports long-term social experiment on sports I try to experiment

experiment on sports I try to experiment

experiment on sports I try to experiment use my own extra example to test whether

use my own extra example to test whether

use my own extra example to test whether we can find some positive correlation

we can find some positive correlation

we can find some positive correlation between sports and social mobility so

between sports and social mobility so

between sports and social mobility so how does this social experiment work we

how does this social experiment work we

how does this social experiment work we empower mainly empower underprivileged

empower mainly empower underprivileged

empower mainly empower underprivileged kids in Hong Kong age from 6 to 18 by

kids in Hong Kong age from 6 to 18 by

kids in Hong Kong age from 6 to 18 by providing them with

providing them with

providing them with two year absolutely free sports training

two year absolutely free sports training

two year absolutely free sports training intensive sports training so both of the

intensive sports training so both of the

intensive sports training so both of the kids from our charity are living in

kids from our charity are living in

kids from our charity are living in terrible conditions some of them are

terrible conditions some of them are

terrible conditions some of them are living in subdivide the flats some of

living in subdivide the flats some of

living in subdivide the flats some of them even work by sitting on top of a

them even work by sitting on top of a

them even work by sitting on top of a plastic bag because the the flat is very

plastic bag because the the flat is very

plastic bag because the the flat is very very small they basically had no

very small they basically had no

very small they basically had no resources to do something long-term

resources to do something long-term

resources to do something long-term under privileged kids so we we try to

under privileged kids so we we try to

under privileged kids so we we try to offer them absolutely free sports

offer them absolutely free sports

offer them absolutely free sports opportunities so what we are offering

opportunities so what we are offering

opportunities so what we are offering there are four main features number one

there are four main features number one

there are four main features number one all of our coaches are former and

all of our coaches are former and

all of our coaches are former and current Hong Kong sports team members

current Hong Kong sports team members

current Hong Kong sports team members they are best of the best in the field

they are best of the best in the field

they are best of the best in the field we offer these type of training to the

we offer these type of training to the

we offer these type of training to the kids for free and secondly we sponsor

kids for free and secondly we sponsor

kids for free and secondly we sponsor them everything for the for a training

them everything for the for a training

them everything for the for a training fee and all equipment and number three

fee and all equipment and number three

fee and all equipment and number three we require all the students to join all

we require all the students to join all

we require all the students to join all sorts of sporting competitions because

sorts of sporting competitions because

sorts of sporting competitions because we understand that through competition

we understand that through competition

we understand that through competition they build up their confidence and last

they build up their confidence and last

they build up their confidence and last but not least we offer something with a

but not least we offer something with a

but not least we offer something with a competition of sports and non sports

competition of sports and non sports

competition of sports and non sports activities to broaden their horizons so

activities to broaden their horizons so

activities to broaden their horizons so right now we offer different types of

right now we offer different types of

right now we offer different types of sports across like tennis hockey running

sports across like tennis hockey running

sports across like tennis hockey running fencing gov rope skipping structural

fencing gov rope skipping structural

fencing gov rope skipping structural cords also sings totaling 12,000 hours

cords also sings totaling 12,000 hours

cords also sings totaling 12,000 hours per year for 200 something kids in ten

per year for 200 something kids in ten

per year for 200 something kids in ten different communities in Hong Kong so I

different communities in Hong Kong so I

different communities in Hong Kong so I think to make such an experiment

think to make such an experiment

think to make such an experiment successful there are three main things

successful there are three main things

successful there are three main things number one is collaboration we are not

number one is collaboration we are not

number one is collaboration we are not training elite athletes we want to

training elite athletes we want to

training elite athletes we want to develop a real social impact to deliver

develop a real social impact to deliver

develop a real social impact to deliver social impact we can’t do things alone

social impact we can’t do things alone

social impact we can’t do things alone we need to build a platform for

we need to build a platform for

we need to build a platform for everybody to in a beyond sports setter

everybody to in a beyond sports setter

everybody to in a beyond sports setter to get involved so we work with NGO

to get involved so we work with NGO

to get involved so we work with NGO University student friends

University student friends

University student friends fashion or government all sorts of

fashion or government all sorts of

fashion or government all sorts of organization to build this platform

organization to build this platform

organization to build this platform second critical success factor is new

second critical success factor is new

second critical success factor is new culture of giving many people define

culture of giving many people define

culture of giving many people define giving by the contributions of money

giving by the contributions of money

giving by the contributions of money which is Hong Kong very very good at but

which is Hong Kong very very good at but

which is Hong Kong very very good at but we define giving in a number of ways

we define giving in a number of ways

we define giving in a number of ways giving of time giving of skills giving a

giving of time giving of skills giving a

giving of time giving of skills giving a social network so everybody can join us

social network so everybody can join us

social network so everybody can join us too often you have for the kids in Hong

too often you have for the kids in Hong

too often you have for the kids in Hong Kong so that you create a social

Kong so that you create a social

Kong so that you create a social mobility and the last thing the last

mobility and the last thing the last

mobility and the last thing the last critical success factor is the impact

critical success factor is the impact

critical success factor is the impact measurement with develop tools with

measurement with develop tools with

measurement with develop tools with external consultant to measure the

external consultant to measure the

external consultant to measure the growth scientifically of our students so

growth scientifically of our students so

growth scientifically of our students so we saw some amazing encouraging result a

we saw some amazing encouraging result a

we saw some amazing encouraging result a 8 year old boy with attention deficit

8 year old boy with attention deficit

8 year old boy with attention deficit became extremely attentive right now

became extremely attentive right now

became extremely attentive right now after years of training in fencing and

after years of training in fencing and

after years of training in fencing and some of the kids improve their academic

some of the kids improve their academic

some of the kids improve their academic result in school because of sports so

result in school because of sports so

result in school because of sports so going forward what we are trying to do

going forward what we are trying to do

going forward what we are trying to do is to bring the sports platform this

is to bring the sports platform this

is to bring the sports platform this organization to go global to be the

organization to go global to be the

organization to go global to be the first Hong kong-based

first Hong kong-based

first Hong kong-based Global’s for charity we want to achieve

Global’s for charity we want to achieve

Global’s for charity we want to achieve the United Nations go of sustainable

the United Nations go of sustainable

the United Nations go of sustainable development goals through sports because

development goals through sports because

development goals through sports because according to United Nations on sports

according to United Nations on sports

according to United Nations on sports for peace and development sports can

for peace and development sports can

for peace and development sports can promote tolerance can can bring people

promote tolerance can can bring people

promote tolerance can can bring people together sports can improve health

together sports can improve health

together sports can improve health advanced education we want to do that

advanced education we want to do that

advanced education we want to do that because we want to change people

because we want to change people

because we want to change people perception here in Hong Kong changed the

perception here in Hong Kong changed the

perception here in Hong Kong changed the perception of sports change the sporting

perception of sports change the sporting

perception of sports change the sporting culture here in Hong Kong to make sure

culture here in Hong Kong to make sure

culture here in Hong Kong to make sure that everybody with beliefs of sports is

that everybody with beliefs of sports is

that everybody with beliefs of sports is an affordable choice to create social

an affordable choice to create social

an affordable choice to create social mobility to to to improve our health to

mobility to to to improve our health to

mobility to to to improve our health to achieve social objective to build a

achieve social objective to build a

achieve social objective to build a cohesive society to shaping inclusive

cohesive society to shaping inclusive

cohesive society to shaping inclusive society this is something we wanna

society this is something we wanna

society this is something we wanna achieve actually I’m not coming here to

achieve actually I’m not coming here to

achieve actually I’m not coming here to sell the sporting idea but the higher

sell the sporting idea but the higher

sell the sporting idea but the higher purpose behind

purpose behind

purpose behind is to I want to inspire every one of you

is to I want to inspire every one of you

is to I want to inspire every one of you to build a lifelong habit of giving

to build a lifelong habit of giving

to build a lifelong habit of giving because I never believed government be

because I never believed government be

because I never believed government be picked on small NGOs and own social

picked on small NGOs and own social

picked on small NGOs and own social enterprise can solve all the social

enterprise can solve all the social

enterprise can solve all the social problems in the modern times what I

problems in the modern times what I

problems in the modern times what I believe is to build resilient individual

believe is to build resilient individual

believe is to build resilient individual who can who have the mindset to help to

who can who have the mindset to help to

who can who have the mindset to help to support and to enable each other to face

support and to enable each other to face

support and to enable each other to face the 21st century challenges larger set a

the 21st century challenges larger set a

the 21st century challenges larger set a Chinese philosopher to give you a fish

Chinese philosopher to give you a fish

Chinese philosopher to give you a fish is to feed you for one day to teach you

is to feed you for one day to teach you

is to feed you for one day to teach you to fish actually it is helping you to

to fish actually it is helping you to

to fish actually it is helping you to fit your lifetime it means that we’re

fit your lifetime it means that we’re

fit your lifetime it means that we’re lucky resources we hope to empower

lucky resources we hope to empower

lucky resources we hope to empower people ladies and gentlemen I hope you

people ladies and gentlemen I hope you

people ladies and gentlemen I hope you share my inspiration be a lifelong giver

share my inspiration be a lifelong giver

share my inspiration be a lifelong giver be a social entrepreneur and be the

be a social entrepreneur and be the

be a social entrepreneur and be the solution of the world thank you very

solution of the world thank you very

solution of the world thank you very much

”

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