As part of the Asian Youth Figure Skating Training Camp in Harbin, an educational seminar on safeguarding in sport was held. Hera Liew, Officer of the Asian Safeguarding and Sport Network, shared her impressions and emphasized the importance of a holistic approach in preparing young athletes.
“What I find truly remarkable about the Asian Youth Figure Skating Camp in Harbin is that the organizers have focused not only on skating and sporting results, but have also placed great emphasis on Olympic values, creating a safe environment, preventing competition manipulation, and, overall, taking a comprehensive approach,” Liew noted.
She also highlighted the fact that the seminar was designed for participants aged 13 to 17 — a critically important period when teenagers are shaping their views on sport and life.
“This is a very important age when teenagers are more vulnerable, still learning to distinguish reliable sources of information, and it is crucial for them to receive the right guidance. That is why the opportunity to give them such knowledge and skills is, in my view, the greatest strength of this camp,” she noted.
A former figure skater herself, Hera Liew addressed the participants with a personal message:
“As a figure skater myself, I sincerely hope they will find their inner motivation in practicing figure skating, nurture their love towards sports, keep their desire to learn, and form friendships that can be built along the way.”
She placed special emphasis on the value of community in an individual sport:
“In figure skating, which is often an individual discipline, it is easy to feel isolated or lose connection with other athletes. But events like the training camp in Harbin offer a wonderful chance to feel part of a community and to truly live in the moment.”
The Asian Youth Figure Skating Training Camp in Harbin, organized by the Children of Asia International Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, and the International Skating Union, has become not only a venue for improving athletic skills, but also a place where young skaters learn important life values, strengthen the spirit of sportsmanship, and gain knowledge that will support them throughout their future careers.
