French Science Festival 2023: Sport and science: from health to performance [fr]

As Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in less than a year, the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macao takes this opportunity to invite you for this unmissable event of scientific culture in Hong Kong!
Inspired by the official motto of the Olympics Games in Paris - "Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together", this year’s events will focus on the role of science in sport and we intend to invite everyone who is curious and passionate about sports, to take part in the upcoming many activities (exhibitions, conferences, film screenings etc.) on performance and health issues.

Have you ever wondered:

• How does footballer Kylian Mbappé manage to run so fast and reach a speed of 38km/h on the pitch?

• What physical and mental work is carried out behind the success of one of the best women’s football teams in France - Olympique Lyonnais?

• Which training allowed Olympic gold medalist in judo, Clarisse Agbégnénou, to return to her top form and won her sixth world champion title in May 2023, just a few months after giving birth?

• What are the health benefits of physical activity?

The French Science Festival is organized in partnership with the Hong Kong Museum of Science and Le Club Sport (France & Greater Bay Area Sport Society). The events will be free and open to everyone. Do not miss the opportunity if you wish to learn more about the benefits of physical activity on health and to discover how science can help us push our body’s limits.

Mark on your calendars and do not miss our sports events!

Friday 10th to Monday 27th Nov: Exhibition "Science at the service of medals"

Double the number of Olympic medals, which hasn’t exceeded forty for six Olympiads. The goal set by the French Ministry of Sport for Paris 2024 is pretty ambitious. Admittedly, French athletes will be competing on home soil, which is a significant advantage, thanks to public support: since 1976, every time a nation has hosted the Games, it has achieved its best placement on the medal table.

However, winning 80 of the 1 600 medals to be awarded in the 32 disciplines selected for this year’s event is a formidable challenge. To meet this challenge, France is counting on its scientists in particular. A priority research program (PPR) for "very high performance sport" was launched in 2018 by the French government. Endowed with 20 million euros and coordinated by the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), this program aims to meet the needs of athletes in all disciplines.

The exhibition also includes a video and 360° experience with Cantonese subtitles.

Come and discover the links between sport and science through this beautiful exhibition designed by the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie.

Time: Hong Kong Science museum opening hours, check on their website.

Location: Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, TST

Saturday 11th Nov: Film screening "Les triplettes de Belleville"

The Triplets of Belleville is a 2003 animated comedy film written and directed by Sylvain Chomet.

This animated film follows elderly Frenchwoman Madame Souza as she becomes involved in international intrigue when her grandson, Champion, a professional cyclist, is kidnapped and taken abroad. Joined by her faithful dog, Bruno, Souza embarks on a journey to find Champion, and stumbles across unlikely allies in the form of three sisters who are veterans of the vaudeville stage. Tracking down Champion’s criminal captors, the quartet of old women use their wits to try and win the day.

Time: 4pm - 5:30pm

Location: Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, TST

Sign up here

Saturday 18th Nov: Workshop DIY Foosball Machine

Time: 3:45 - 4:45pm
Organized with Big Bang Academy

Mastering Angles and Pivots: Building a DIY Foosball Machine (6-11 y.o. on registration only)

Join us in this exciting course where we downsize the popular sport of foosball and bring it right into your home! Explore the fascinating world of angles and pivots as you construct your very own foosball machine. Engage in competitive experiments that highlight the importance of precise angles and strategic pivots for a successful game.

Location: Alliance française,52 Jordan Road, Kowloon

Saturday 18th Nov: Champions conference with the participation of our ambassadors, Alison Yu and Grégory Koenig

Join the Champions conference of the French Science Festival on Sport and science: from health to performance on November 18th at the Hong Kong Science Museum.

This conference will be attended by the two ambassadors of the Fête de la science 2023:

Grégory Koenig, coach of the fencing team in Hong Kong, China. He notably coaches Cheung Ka Long, Olympic foil champion at the last Games. Meet Grégory Koenig, our ambassador here.

Alison Yu, Paralympic fencer from Hong Kong, China. She is a 7-time Paralympic gold medallist. Meet Alison Yu, our ambassador here

In their discussion, both high level athlete and coach will focus on the link between science and sport: from health to performance in the context of Paris hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.

Other speakers and performers

Timothy Fok is President of the Sports Federation and the National Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. He was an active member of the International Olympic Committee from 2001 to 2016 and an honorary member since 2017. As a well-respected figure in the local and international sports community, Mr. Fok was awarded the Golden Bauhinia Medal in recognition of his tremendous contributions to the development of sports in Hong Kong.

Jenny Fung will also take part in the conference. She is President of the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and President of the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (China). She is also Vice-Chairman (ex-officio) of the Hong Kong Government Sports Commission and Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Sports. She was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in the HKSAR Government’s Honours in recognition of her meritorious contributions to the promotion and development of sport in Hong Kong. Ms. Fung has made exemplary efforts to advance the Paralympic movement.

Dr Parco Siu will moderate the conference. He is Associate Professor and Head of the Division of Kinesiology at the School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the American College of Sports Medicine, the European College of Sport Science and the Hong Kong Association of Sports Medicine and Sports Science.

TBS is a professional break dance team in Hong Kong. It has over 14 years’ experience. Many members belong to the Hong Kong breakdance team. In addition to participating in dance shows and competitions, they have been actively cultivating a new generation of BBOY and BGIRL over the past few years. Bboy C Plus is currently qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Come and get the opportunity to watch Bboy Cplus, together with his teammates Bboy Humor and Bboy Shadow for a joyful breakdance performance!

Indicative rundown:
18h00: Opening speech by the consul general of France, Mrs Christile Drulhe
18h05: Speech by the President the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Timothy Fok
18h10: Speech by the president of China, Hong Kong Paralympic Committee, Jenny Fung
18h15: Panel discussion with the French Science Festival ambassadors Gregory Koenig and Alison Yu. Moderator, Parco Siu, Associate Professor and Division Head, Division of Kinesiology at the Hong Kong University
19h05: Break Dance performance by BBOYs Cplus, Humor and Shadow representing HK national team for the Olympics next year
19h15: cocktail party (on invitation only)
20h15: closure of the event

Time: 6pm

Location: Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, TST

Sign up here

Sunday 19th Nov: Free gym class for adults

Physical activity is key to stay in shape, this year the French science Festival is organizing three free gym classes with the topnotch instructors from @Defin8, the most sought-after fitness and Pilates studio in town!

The class will take place outdoor on the rooftop on Decathlon TKO. Enjoy a free gym class with cool music and a nice view! Drinks and snacks will be provided and souvenirs given to all the participants!

Please bring along your own yoga mat!

Maximum capacity: 100 participants

About the fitness instructors

HK’s leading elite fitness and Pilates studio, voted Expat Living’s Best Pilates & Fitness Studio and Best Personal Trainers, Defin8 was founded in 2016 by Trixie and Leo Velez.

Time: 4pm - 5:30pm

Location: Decathlon, TKO

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Saturday 25th Nov: Free gym class for kids

[fully booked]

Physical activity is key to stay in shape, this year the French science Festival is organizing this free and fun gym class for kids (6 to 12 yo) with the topnotch instructors from @Defin8, the most sought after fitness and Pilates studio in town!

The class will take place indoor in the amazing AIA Vitality hub. Drinks and snacks will be provided and souvenirs given to all the participants!

Rundown:
o Introduction of the event – 5 minutes

o Relay games – 15 minutes

o Fitness circuit – 30 minutes

Maximum capacity : 30 participants

About the fitness instructors

HK’s leading elite fitness and Pilates studio, voted Expat Living’s Best Pilates & Fitness Studio and Best Personal Trainers, Defin8 was founded in 2016 by Trixie and Leo Velez.

Time: 2pm - 3pm

Location: AIA vitality hub, Central

Sign up here

Saturday 25th Nov: Free gym class for elderly

[fully booked]

Physical activity is key to stay in shape, this year the French science Festival is organizing this free class "active aging" to elderly with the topnotch instructors from @Defin8, the most sought after fitness and Pilates studio in town!

The class will take place indoor in the amazing AIA Vitality hub. Drinks and snacks will be provided and souvenirs given to all the participants!

Registration will be done via SAGE, the Hong Kong Society for the Aged, an orghanisation funded in 1977 and dedicated to provide support to the elderly.

Maximum capacity: 30

Time: 3pm - 4pm

Location: AIA vitality hub, Central

Sunday 26th Nov: Nutrition panel discussion

A panel discussion on nutrition will be organized as it is a highly important part of health but also of sport performance at the Hong Kong Science Museum on the 26th of November. This panel discussion will touch base on energy levels, prevention of age-related illnesses and diseases, athlete’s vitamin and mineral needs, muscle growth and repair, hydration, ethical use of sports supplements etc.

Dr Margaret Kuo, Sport Nutrition & Monitoring Manager at the Hong Kong Sports Institute together with Dr Frankie Siu and Dr Sophia Li have been invited to discuss with participants regarding the relationship among nutrition, health, as well as sport performances. They will discuss energy levels, prevention of age-related illnesses and diseases including muscle growth and repair, and on the use of nutritional supplements and exercise performance. They will also discuss the benefits of a plant based diet.

Speakers: Dr. Margaret Kuo (Sport Nutrition & Monitoring Manager, Hong Kong Sports Institute) Dr Frankie Siu (Senior Sport Dietitian) and Dr Sophia Li (Sports Science Officer).

: Dr. Margaret Jip KUO received her Bachelor of Health Science from Taipei Medical University; Master’s in Sports Nutrition from National Taiwan Sport University; and her Doctorate in Food Sciences and Nutrition from Fu Jen Catholic University. From 2002, Dr. Kuo works as a sports nutritionist for the baseball, judo, marathon and bodybuilding team. Her research interests include Chinese herbs Eleutherococcus senticosus, ergogenic aids and diet planning for athletes. Margaret has authored 15 books and over 95 articles. More specifically, she ran an ultra-marathon (45K) for a YWCA charity fund raising in 2014. Currently, she is the Manager of Sport Nutrition Monitoring Centre of Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI).

: Dr Sophia Li is a registered dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (US). She holds a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Loma Linda University. Sophia currently serves as a sports nutrition officer at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, where she passionately assists professional athletes of all ages in attaining optimal health, achieving peak performance, and facilitating efficient recovery through the power of nutrition. Additionally, she plays a pivotal role in developing nutritious recipes tailored to athletes’ specific needs and conducts informative nutrition education workshops. Prior to her role in Hong Kong, Ms. Sophia gained invaluable clinical experience during her three-year tenure at a hospital in California (US). Her comprehensive background equips her with the expertise to provide holistic guidance and support to individuals seeking to enhance their well-being through the transformative potential of proper nutrition.

Dr. Frankie Siu received his Bachelor of Science from University of British Columbia and and Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Wollongong and obtained dietetics professional. After graduation, Mr. Siu worked at public hospital and provided dietary advice to patients in 2004. Since 2008, Mr. Siu has joined Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) to provide nutrition services to Hong Kong elite athletes. The duties in HKSI include nutrition consultation small group education, supervising athlete’s canteen, applied nutrition research and local and overseas on-field support. Mr. Siu is a Team Dietitian in 2018 and 2022 Asian Games and 2020 Olympic Games.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Metabev: Vittel, Perrier, for the drinks provided on the event.

Time: 3pm - 4:30pm

Location: Classroom Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, TST

Sign up here

*As far as possible, we work to ensure that all our events are accessible to persons with reduced mobility.

Thank you to our partners and sponsors