Civil Service Newsletter Issue 121

Civil service volunteers joining hands to support the spectacular national sports event of 15th National Games, 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th National Special Olympic Game

Civil Service Bureau

The 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) were successfully held from November to December 2025.

To provide support for this major national sports event co-hosted for the first time by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) kick-started its co-ordination work as early as in August 2024 to call on all bureaux/departments to encourage and promote participation among civil servants. After attending a series of volunteer training programmes, over 3 200 government staff were appointed as volunteers in Hong Kong competition region, of whom more than 2 500 members were from 66 civil service volunteer teams, and some 700 government staff participated in their personal capacity or as members of other groups.

During the 15th NG, the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG, the civil service volunteer teams contributed over 55 000 hours of service, providing support for various competitions, including beach volleyball, basketball (men’s U22), rugby sevens, track cycling, triathlon, cross-boundary athletics (marathon), para dance sport and wheelchair fencing, etc. Their varied roles covered spectator services, guest reception, ceremony services, competition support, security screening, anti-doping services and others. Meanwhile, the volunteer teams also offered assistance to the Main Media Centre and the Central Volunteer Command Centre, contributing to this major national sports event through diverse roles.

More than 3 200 volunteers comprising serving and retired civil servants aged between their twenties and seventies exerted utmost efforts to provide services for the Games, fully demonstrating the spirit of the service slogan “Be more wonderful for you”. They strived to deliver efficient support in various roles, while always serving with friendly smiles. Together, the volunteers helped create a memorable National Games experience for athletes across the country and visitors all over the world.

At the Main Media Centre, the Customs and Excise Department Volunteer Team served as an information service platform to provide comprehensive support for media coverage, ranging from the updating of competition schedule to the arrangements for media interviews.

At the Central Volunteer Command Centre, volunteers from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department assisted with manpower deployment in response to ad-hoc changes in venue arrangements and contingency measures related to the weather condition, effectively supporting to various competitions.

Volunteers serving as ceremony assistants strived for excellence during training sessions by repeatedly rehearsing standard gestures for holding medal trays. Perfection was pursued in every detail in the hope of presenting medals to athletes with cordial smiles and proper decorum.

Volunteers from the Architectural Services Department held blue manicules printed with a sign of the Games at the plaza outside the Hong Kong Velodrome, showing spectators the way to the entrance of the venue for the track cycling events.

Volunteers from the Immigration Department and the Environmental Protection Department served as guest service assistants at the wheelchair fencing events, welcoming spectators to the competitions in a professional manner. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan (second left), visited the Ma On Shan Sports Centre to cheer on the athletes and also to have candid exchanges with civil service volunteers, learning more about their service experiences and personal feelings.

The CSB Volunteer Team provided support for the competitions in the venue, including assisting in guiding medal-winning athletes to the podium for receiving awards, and manning spectator stands and various entrances and exits.

房The Housing Bureau and Housing Department Volunteer Teams set off in the early hours to support the competition by offering assistance to athletes participating in the cross-boundary athletics (marathon) competition at the track near the Shenzhen Bay Port. — The Housing Bureau and Housing Department Volunteer Teams set off in the early hours to support the competition by offering assistance to athletes participating in the cross-boundary athletics (marathon) competition at the track near the Shenzhen Bay Port.

During the rugby sevens competition, a volunteer from the Legal Aid Department assisted a spectator in downloading a competition-themed photo generated by artificial intelligence with an interactive device at the Kai Tak Stadium.

During the basketball (men’s U22) competition, the Correctional Services Department volunteers served as spectator service assistants, guiding spectators inside and outside the Hong Kong Coliseum as well as in the proximity of public transport facilities, answering enquiries from spectators, assisting with the operation of booth games, and maintaining order in the media area.