International gymnastics judge YUEN Ka Keung returned to Hong Kong to develop his new career after study aboard. 國際體操裁判袁家強 外流深造回港打天下
Updated: Jan 15
讀萬卷書、行萬里路，香港人的足跡可以遍及世界。
Nothing is impossible for a willing heart. From making good use of his spare time to study Russian language to pursuing advanced studies at the Russian International Olympic University in Russia in recent years, Yuen Ka Keung, a Hong Kong-born international gymnastics judge, has ambitions that extend far and wide. After his overseas journey, he returned to Hong Kong this March to plan his next steps. His often-quoted phrase, "to contribute what I have learned to society," is now being put into action. Yuen Ka Keung plans to open gymnastics and Russian language courses in Hong Kong and is also seeking further development opportunities, hoping to inspire more people to take up gymnastics.
Speaking of Hong Kong gymnastics, people might think of Shek Wai Hung, who won two Asian Games vault gold medals and will be aiming for the Tokyo Olympics next year; his good friend Ng Kiu Chung, who is still striving for Tokyo Olympic qualification and waiting to compete despite the pandemic; and his senior, Wong Hiu Ying, who was injured after the London Olympics but has now recovered and resumed training. These three elite athletes are the most widely known. However, those in the industry know that there is a local international gymnastics referee named YUEN Ka Keung, who has officiated at the Asian Games, the Olympics, and the World Championships. In recent years, he has been pursuing a master's degree in sports administration at the Russian International Olympic University in Sochi, the city of the Winter Olympics in Russia. He is a low-profile expert who is not widely known.
世上無難事，只怕有心人。由善用工餘時間修習俄文，到近幾年去了俄羅斯國際奧林匹克大學深造，土生土長的國際體操裁判袁家強男兒志在四方，經歷海外之旅後，今年3月回港部署下一步。掛在口邊的一句「將所學所長貢獻社會」，現在化為實際行動，袁家強既要在港開班教授體操及俄文，又謀求更多發展計劃，只希望激發更多有緣人接觸體操。
說起香港體操界別，大家可能想起石偉雄拿了兩屆亞運跳馬金牌，來年再去東京奧運放手一搏；好兄弟吳翹充仍在為東奧運資格努力，疫情下仍在等待參賽；大師姐黃曉盈參加了倫敦奧運之後受傷多時，現在痊癒繼續參加訓練，精英選手以這3人最廣為人識。但是行內人都知道，本地有一位土生土長的國際體操裁判袁家強，去過亞運、奧運、世錦賽舞台執法，近幾年去了俄羅斯冬奧城市索契的俄羅斯國際奧林匹克大學深造體育行政碩士，是較少為人留意的低調高手。
In March of this year, Yuen Ka Keung returned to Hong Kong from Russia. Recently, he updated his status in his social media, revealing that he is running private gymnastics and Russian language classes. Following an arranged interview, Yuen Ka Keung visited a gymnastics training room in an industrial building in Tsuen Wan, run by a friend, where he discussed his experiences over the past few years and his plans after returning to Hong Kong.
I first met Yuen Ka Keung at the airport after Shek Wai Hung won the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games. Over the years, I've heard him express a desire to further his studies in sports administration, and this determined man has indeed put his words into action. Yuen Ka Keung said that he went to the Russian International Olympic University in Sochi, for further studies in September 2017: "This time I was studying for a Master of Sports Administration, from September 2017 to June 2018. I went to study on a full scholarship. When I graduated in 2018, it coincided with the Russian World Cup. At that time, I thought Sochi was a good place and I didn't want to come back to Hong Kong too early and have to find an excuse. As a result, I studied Russian language at Sochi State University for one and half years, and spent my spare time visiting former Soviet countries and Eastern Europe."
今年3月袁家強由俄羅斯返港，見到他近日在網上更新自己近況，原來他正在開辦私人體操班及俄文課程。相約訪問之下，袁家強便來到荃灣工廈由友人開設的體操訓練室，講起這幾年間的經歷及今次回港後的計劃。
自2014年亞運石偉雄奪金凱旋接機時認識袁家強，這幾年間一直聽著他想在體育行政方面深造，結果這位有心人果然是言出必行。袁家強說，他是2017年9月前往索契的俄羅斯國際奧林匹克大學深造：「今次是修讀體育行政碩士，由2017年9月讀到2018年6月，我是拿取全額獎學金去讀書。18年畢業正好遇上俄羅斯世界盃，我當時在想索契是一個好地方，不想太早回來香港又要找個理由，結果在索契國立大學修讀一年半俄語，課餘時間便去前蘇聯國家及東歐地區考察。」
Language is like a key, allowing you to travel the world and engage in in-depth exchanges with foreigners. Yuen Ka Keung, living abroad, used his gymnastics expertise and fluent Russian language to travel extensively in Russia and Eastern Europe, visiting Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Belarus, and Ukraine to broaden his horizons. He frequently interacted with gymnastics professionals in various places as a judge, while also observing the development of gymnastics in different regions. Having lived abroad for so long, if he had continued, Ka Keung could have easily become another protagonist in "Searching for Home." Why then did he choose to return to Hong Kong?
Ka Keung explained, "I originally wanted to apply to teach sports management at a tertiary institution in January last year, but it didn't work out. Then, in January and February this year, I went to Georgia and Azerbaijan to assist the gymnastics team with training and to serve as a neutral judge. Then, the schedule for the competition I was officiating in March changed, so I decided to return to Hong Kong." After returning to Hong Kong, he didn't stay idle. Ka Keung organized his gymnastics class teaching materials, Russian language and culture course teaching materials. At the same time, he contacted his old friend Joseph and rented his gymnastics studio to start private classes.
語言就好似一把鎖匙，帶你暢遊各地與外國人深入交流。袁家強生活在他方，一邊以自己的體操專長及流暢俄文穿梭俄羅斯及東歐國家，去了阿塞拜疆、格魯吉亞、亞美尼亞、土耳其、白羅斯及烏克蘭等地增廣見聞，不時以體操裁判身份與各地體操界別人士交流，同時考察各地的體操界別發展。活在他方已久，如果長住下去，家強隨時成為另一個《尋找他鄉的故事》主角，為何又選擇返港？
家強解釋說：「本來想在上年1月申請在大專院校教體育管理，但未成事，之後今年1、2月去了格魯吉亞和阿塞拜疆，分別協助體操隊訓練及做中立裁判。然後3月執法的賽事原定行程有變，於是我便決定返港。」返港之後也不是閒著，袁家強一邊整理自己的體操班教材、俄文班及文化班教材，一方面找到昔日友人CK YU，然後租用他的體操室開私人班教學。
In a Tsuen Wan industrial building, Joesph's gymnastics studio features custom-made equipment perfectly suited for classroom use. Even more remarkably, in a small training room tucked away at the end of a narrow alley, this tiny shop reveals a hidden gem: a miniature world within a small space, fully equipped. Students can practice both the springboard and the horizontal bar, resembling a cardboard dojo from the TV drama "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," where the impossible can be conjured up in a thousand possibilities. Ka Keung frankly admits that CK is a dedicated individual, like himself, who diligently studied gymnastics outside of his clerical work hours, gradually finding ways to improve and ultimately pass on his skills to the next generation.
In Hong Kong, gymnastics isn't a popular sport, but simply complaining won't change reality. Dedicated individuals like Yuen Ka Keung are finding ways to pursue their dreams in this small area, acting as strict instructors to pass on their knowledge. Perhaps one day, students practicing here will even make it onto the Hong Kong team, or even compete in the Asian Games or the Olympics.
荃灣工廈的一方，Joseph的體操室內的器具都是特別訂造，務求貼合課堂之用。更神奇的是在橫街窄巷盡頭的地鋪訓練室，小小一片店打開來別有洞天，麻雀雖小五臟俱全，學員在此既可練彈網又可練單槓，彷彿是電視劇《打天下》的紙皮道場一般，要在不可能的地方幻化出千種可能。家強直言Joseph是有心人，和他一樣當初在文職時間外苦學體操，然後慢慢想方法進步成材，再將所學傳給下一代。
在香港，體操不是熱門運動，但只是原地抱怨不會改變現實。有心人袁家強在彈丸之地想方設法尋夢，扮演嚴師開班將自己所學傳揚，也許未來有學員在此練習再跳上港隊，甚至出戰亞運、奧運也未可知。
Yuen Ka Keung stated that he has clear goals, diligently performing his current duties while simultaneously pursuing future objectives: "Currently, I have four things I want to do: first, my current private gymnastics training courses; second, to offer Russian language or Eurasian cultural courses in Hong Kong; third, to work independently in Taiwan; and fourth, to pursue a doctorate, whether in Hong Kong or Taiwan, as I believe I have the academic ability to become a scholar."
He is well-read and has traveled extensively, possessing in-depth research on sports policies worldwide. He is also the only Chinese judge fluent in Russian language and has genuinely interacted with people from various gymnastics communities. If Hong Kong's sports community understands how to utilize talent effectively, it can encourage dedicated individuals to contribute more to Hong Kong society.
袁家強說自己目標清晰，一邊努力做好手頭工作，一邊再向未來目標進發：「目前自己有四件事情想做，一是眼前的體操私人訓練課程、二是在香港開辦俄文或者歐亞國家文化課程、三是去台灣自由身工作、四是想去讀博士，無論是香港或者台灣也好，我相信自己在學術上有能力成為一個學者。」
既讀萬卷書、也行萬里路，對於世界各地的體育政策有深入研究，也是華人裁判界別唯一暢通俄文，與各地體操界別的人真誠相處過的人才。香港體育界如果懂得重用人才，這樣才可以鼓勵有心人對香港社會多作貢獻。
It is well-known that how is the current situation of Hong Kong Sports. Yuen Ka Keung said he is still waiting for the opportunity to take the next step: "If I want to pursue a doctorate, it will take three years full-time, but I already have a research topic. Whether it's studying or teaching, I'm always ready. This is the result of my daily accumulation of knowledge. I have a commitment to sports and gymnastics and want to contribute my knowledge and skills to society. It just depends on who is willing to accept it."
提起香港體壇情況大家心領神會，袁家強說現在仍然在等待時機開展下一步：「如果想讀博士，全職也要3年，但我已經有題目在手，無論是讀書或者教班，我隨時都有準備在手，這是平常日積月累的功夫。自己對於體育及體操有commitment，想將所學所長貢獻社會，就看哪一位有心人可以接受得到。」
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