Your Voice: Purple track at the Paris Olympics, pickleball’s rising popularity, the AI era and why you shouldn’t fear judgment

This year, the Olympics will be held in Paris, bringing together athletes from around the world. One significant change has been made to the event: the traditional red running track has been replaced with a unique and vibrant purple version.

Not only is the colour different, but the design of the track’s lower layer cells has changed significantly. These cells reduce the energy loss when athletes touch the track’s surface, protecting their health by not hindering their technique.

In addition to the eye-catching colour and improved structure, the design is more sustainable; it is made of recycled rubber powder and utilises cutting-edge technology that prevents microplastic release. According to research, up to 50 per cent of the track’s components are either renewable or recycled, which is higher than the 2012 London Olympics. In addition, the production process did not involve fossil fuels – only oil-free materials with a reduced environmental impact. This kind of manufacturing allows the components to be reused. These changes make the new track more environmentally friendly.

The colour purple represents grapes and French wine, which is famous worldwide. The track could attract more tourists to France and incentivise people to purchase more French wine.

Hopefully, athletes can do their best and continue to break records on the new purple track.

Ansley Au Tsz-ying, King Ling College

Imagine a sport that blends the best of table tennis, badminton, and tennis. This unique combination makes pickleball. The racquet sport, born in the US in the summer of 1965, has recently become very popular.

You may wonder how it earned such a captivating name since “pickle” is often associated with sour and fermented food. The name “pickleball” is a clever reference to the leftover non-starters in the “pickle boat” of crew races. Initially borrowing heavily from badminton rules, pickleball’s original purpose was to foster familial connections and simultaneously share the joy of sports. The USA Pickleball Association was formed in 2005, consolidating the foundation of the sport and bringing like-minded individuals together.

A pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court. The structure is similar to a tennis court, complete with service courts and a non-volley zone known as “the kitchen”. Each game consists of 11 points, and after each score, the server switches sides, creating a dynamic experience.

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Pickleball is not just a game; it is a powerful cardiovascular workout that keeps your heart rate up. It’s a fun way to improve hand-eye coordination and boost one’s mood and mental health. Pickleball has numerous health benefits, making it an excellent choice for those looking to stay fit and active.

Pickleball has the potential to become the next big thing in Hong Kong. With the 2024 Paris Olympics nearing, it is the ideal time to promote sports and support our local athletes. Pickleball doesn’t require much space, and we can use refurbished badminton and tennis courts. Hongkongers have a fast-paced and busy lifestyle; hence, incorporating a small amount of movement every day would benefit our health and mental well-being.

As we look forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics, promoting a new sport could offer citizens new possibilities and contribute to building a more active and healthy community.

Praveen Sathappan Narayanan, St Johannes College

The first computer was invented in 1871 by Charles Babbage. To the 19th-century layperson, coding was an alien term. Yet, almost two centuries later, coding has become a regular part of our lives. Even primary school students are learning how to code while artificial intelligence (AI) language models are being created to render jobs such as data entry and customer service obsolete.

Coding has not only drastically improved the convenience of our lives but also made a whole new era possible: the era of AI. AI language models have become so powerful that they can write almost flawless code for companies. As AI models continue to develop, will learning to code no longer be an advantage for future techies?

Earlier this year, Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of the world’s leading chip maker Nvidia, offered his thoughts in this long-standing public debate. During his interview at the World Governments Summit, Huang said we would soon see the death of coding. He later explained that knowing how to code would not be an essential advantage for anyone looking to get into the tech field before we know it. This is because AI language models will do most of the programming. Hence, future techies should focus on learning business domain knowledge rather than technical skills. He added that the coming generation should focus on other fields like agriculture, education, and biology, which AI cannot easily replace.

So, how should we, the future generation, take advantage of AI? Huang believes that youth should learn how to implement AI in other fields, such as personalised AI education, to cater to each student’s learning ability.

I started learning to code earlier this year, but I am in a dilemma as AI language models may do most of the coding in the future. Hence, I am leaning toward more creative fields, such as art or music, which aren’t easily replaceable by AI. However, as generative AI continues to develop and target creativity and art, I believe the most important thing for all of us is to learn, unlearn, and relearn to take advantage of the development around us.

Crystal Cen, Hong Kong Adventist Academy

Have you ever hesitated to pursue a particular interest due to fear of judgment or criticism? Do you hold back from expressing your genuine thoughts and feelings because you’re worried about how others might perceive you?

While teens want to stand out, they don’t want to be alone – they still want to fit in. According to the American magazine Psychology Today, finding familiarity and engaging in activities that align with what others are doing can be seen as a form of validation. However, constantly seeking validation from others can be emotionally taxing.

Imagine the overwhelming pressure to be cautious in every action you take. This unsettling impulse convinces you that the impression you make will suffer if you don’t consistently conform to others’ preferences.

Studies on adolescent social cognition reveal that teenagers heavily rely on a region of the brain called the medial prefrontal cortex to understand others’ thoughts and imitate them. It is a natural tendency for humans to associate our actions with others, seeking approval and adaptation.

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Seeking approval is inevitable. Over time, people prioritise how others perceive them, and individual incidents become less significant to others. Everyone has opinions and options, limited to their perspectives and perceptions. Opinions do not hold power over your life.

Believing that others’ opinions determine our self-worth and self-esteem can lead us to constantly avoid disappointment, distracting us from what truly matters.

I read that roughly 10 per cent of the people you know will support and affirm you, 80 per cent will remain neutral and observant, and the remaining 10 per cent will disregard you for various reasons. While the percentages may not be exact, the truth remains – it is impossible to please everyone. Even if you are kind and graceful, someone will always find a reason to criticise you.

Life is full of limitations, and time is valuable. Allowing the fear of judgment to restrict your possibilities can result in missing out on exploring your passions in your youth and forming meaningful friendships with others. Instead of constantly analysing and seeking approval from everyone, redirect your focus to what brings you joy. People will always criticise you, but genuine happiness comes from pursuing what excites and fulfils you.