Disabled children playing boccia thanks to Operation Santa Claus
Wheelchair-bound children discover a Portuguese bowling game not only helps their physicality but boosts their confidence off court
Like many children, these youngsters have a favourite ball game.
But they do not run around. Some do not even touch the ball directly. Still, they are good at their sport and taking part brings satisfaction and confidence.
These children with physical limitations are playing boccia, a Portuguese game related to boules and bowls, except that the players sit in wheelchairs.
Billy Lam Kei-yau, 18, has been playing for eight years. His cerebral palsy makes it too hard to throw a ball with his hand.
Instead, from his wheelchair, he pushes the ball down a ramp with a pointer extending from his helmet - aiming to hit a white ball several feet away. The aim of the game is to get your ball as close as possible to the white one.
"I like playing boccia because I was able to master the skill easily," Lam said. He attends two practice sessions a week and has represented his school, Hong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra School, in competitions.
The school for disabled children bought two new boccia sets in April with last year's donation from Operation Santa Claus (OSC), the annual fundraising campaign jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.