Hong Kong youth tennis delegation comes to Blackpool in December

A cultural exchange programme aimed at supporting underprivileged but talented young Chinese tennis players, will be taking place in Blackpool over the festive period.

Creating an opportunity for the children to travel from Hong Kong and train in the UK, the exchange programme is funded by local restaurateur Alan Choi, whose family has run the Jade Garden Chinese restaurant in Poulton since 2008.

Ten children, mostly from low income families in Hong Kong, ranging in age from eight to eighteen will take part in a series of tennis matches across the North West aimed at challenging their sporting abilities whilst widening their cultural horizons.

The inspirational concept is the brainchild of Alan, a promising tennis player in his youth, who came up with the idea to give children from his homeland the opportunity to improve their sporting ability whilst experiencing UK culture. Supported by his sister who is a renowned tennis coach in Hong Kong and local businesswoman Angela Man, Alan has worked tirelessly to turn his dream into reality.

Alan Choi said: “I came up with this idea because as a child growing up in Hong Kong I always loved tennis. It was my dream to play in tournaments all over the world. My career however took a different path because of my poor family background. Tennis was an expensive sport during that time, and my family could not afford to fund my dream. But I still love the sport and wanted to offer children from Hong Kong an experience that they would not normally be able to achieve. I hope this big Christmas present can give them the dream for their future that I had when I was their age.

"Wonderful sport as a catalyst to encourage the local children to take part in the tournament with the children from overseas for a true cultural exchange. In the very near future I would like to get other sports involved, like football, badminton and basketball.” Learning from the experience of this first tournament, Alan’s plan is to recreate the project on a much wider scale for summer 2017 with help from the YES programme (Young Entrepreneur Start), an initiative planned for the New Year, which aims to offer support and guidance to young Chinese entrepreneurs across the region who have an idea that they could develop during the 90 day programme. The YES project has the backing of Blackpool Council’s Enterprise team and the China UK Business Centre, based at Lancaster House, Blackpool.

Enjoyed this? Read more from THE CHINA-UK BUSINESS CENTRE

Latest news

1

Eurofighter deals secure thousands of jobs Typhoon production in Samlesbury, Lancashire

Eurofighter deals secure thousands of jobs

24 Dec 2024

2

Rospen shares global reach and industry expertise with MP Grant McGeever and Sarah Smith MP

Rospen shares global reach and industry expertise with MP

23 Dec 2024

3

The Flow Group acquires Blackburn based Modern Bookbinders in strategic asset purchase The Flow Group's Richard, Mick and Helen

The Flow Group acquires Blackburn based Modern Bookbinders in strategic asset purchase

23 Dec 2024

4

fulfilmentcrowd reports record-breaking performance LeeThompsonfulfilmentcrowd

fulfilmentcrowd reports record-breaking performance

20 Dec 2024

5

Record year for Grant Thornton Northern deals team The team

Record year for Grant Thornton Northern deals team

20 Dec 2024

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
The Lancashire Festival of Business
FOB 315
Exhibitions
30 Jan 2025

The Lancashire Festival of Business

Impact Conferencing, Burnley, BB12 6QP

09:30 - 16:00

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Awards
14 Jan 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

Preston Tech Connection - January Meet-Up
Nov Preston Tech Connection event banner-4.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
15 Jan 2025 - 15 Jan 2025

Preston Tech Connection - January Meet-Up

Society1 Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

R.I.S.E. and Shine
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
16 Jan 2025 - 16 Jan 2025

R.I.S.E. and Shine

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

08:45 - 11:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jan 2025 - 16 Jan 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

LBV120 Magazine Launch Event
DSC9389
Networking
17 Jan 2025

LBV120 Magazine Launch Event

Lancastrian Suite, Town Hall, Chorley, PR7 1DP

08:30 - 10:30

Red Rose Awards 2025
Red Rose Awards 2025
Awards
13 Mar 2025

Red Rose Awards 2025

Winter Gardens Blackpool

18:00 - 11:59

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV118 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin