customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Lars Hamer

The Hong Kong government should provide more financial support to athletes to ensure the city can build on the two gold medals and two bronze medals won at the Paris Olympics, lawmakers said on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference, lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, who is also vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), outlined 10 policy proposals aimed at improving performance on the international stage and creating a stronger sports environment throughout the city.
The proposals included increasing financial support given to athletes and improving the governance of sports associations.
“I hope that more resources can be provided to support elite athletes at all levels,” Cheng said. “One of the key points is to hope that they will have the opportunity to move upwards … We don’t want them to stay at the entry level.”


In Hong Kong, athletes are developed by the sport’s governing body, with the very best graduating to HKSI and representing the city internationally.
Of the 35 athletes who represented the city at the Paris Olympics, 26 were in receipt of HKSI Tier-A* funding, worth between HK$44,500 and HK$50,000 (US$5,700 and US$6,400) each month. Another seven claim between HK$32,730 and HK$$38,540 as Tier-A-supported athletes.
However, entry-level athletes get only around HK$7,000, less than the city’s minimum wage.
Earlier this week, badminton player Lee Cheuk-yiu, who at one point earned HK$7,000 per month, highlighted that many athletes had given up because of the low levels of financial support.
Cheng’s proposals called for a review of this funding, especially for those at the beginning of their sports careers, to ensure they remain competitive and see sports as a viable career.
The institute previously said it would review its training grant in September, with a report to be released early next year and new arrangements to be implemented in April as the organisation sought to increase subsidies and adjust its eligibility threshold.
When asked by the Post if more government funding should lead to the HKSI publicly discussing expectations before events such as the Olympics or the Asian Games, Cheng said it would be “difficult”.
“It’s quite a difficult issue to estimate how many medals we could get, but of course, as HKSI members, we are all trying to get the best results,” he added.
Before the Paris Olympics, the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee (SF&OC) declined to give a medal target, saying it would be “inappropriate”.
Cheng added that he hoped private companies, and not just the government, could also offer financial support to athletes. He said while some athletes benefited from sponsorship and advertisement, there should be a pathway for them to become employees.
He also suggested the government could provide tax exemptions to private institutions that sponsored active or retired athletes’ celebrity endorsements.
The proposals also included a call for an examination of the governance of the city’s National Sports Associations (NSA). The SF&OC previously said it would announce in September corporate governance guidelines to ensure better management.

When asked what should happen to NSAs accused of failing to develop their sports and nurture Hong Kong athletes, such as the governing bodies for swimming, weightlifting, gymnastics and athletics, Cheng did not address the issue directly but said that there was “room for improvement”.
“We know that many people have concerns about sports association governance issues. We do think that they have a lot of [room for] improvement in the future,” he said.
“We hope that there is a fair system for all to become an athlete, and people have equal opportunities to go into the system.”
Other policy proposals included building sports facilities faster than they were currently being built, renewing global events’ broadcast rights, hosting more events in the city and collaboration with the mainland.
Other points Cheng said that needed improvement were sports science and medicine, which would benefit athletes and the elderly.
To encourage members of the public to be more active and get involved with sports, the plan said discounts and vouchers could be offered to the public, while more effort should be put into promoting a healthy lifestyle.


Olympians Viktor Axelsen, Loh Kean Yew offer guidance to Hong Kong youth on sports careers

Diver Tom Daley calls for lifting of Olympic age rules, despite own ‘tough’ Beijing debut

Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen aims to keep badminton in spotlight at Hong Kong Open

Singapore star Loh Kean Yew playing for new son’s ‘diapers and formula’ at Hong Kong Open

Hong Kong Sports Institute

Improve Hong Kong sport with more support for athletes, better governance: Vincent Cheng

People take pictures with cardboard figures of Olympic gold medallist fencer Cheung Ka-long (left) and bronze medallist swimmer Siobhan Haughey at the APM shopping mall in Kwun Tong. Photo: Edmond So

Badminton player Lee Cheuk-yiu said many athletes had given up because of low levels of financial support. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Paris Olympics: as Hong Kong basks in golden Games, officials silent on how to follow it

Cheung Ka-long unfurls a Hong Kong flag as he celebrates his Olympic gold in Paris. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong clutches her gold medal at the Games. Photo: DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Ceci Lee (centre, in blue) competes in track cycling’s omnium event in Paris. Photo: SF&OC

Hong Kong Sports Institute bosses have resisted discussing how to plot future success. Photo: Winson Wong

Cash in on Hong Kong athletes’ star power to help develop sports sector, industry chief says

Patrons at APM shopping centre take pictures with cardboard figures of Olympic medallists Cheung Ka-long and Siobhan Haughey. Photo: Edmond So

Badminton player Lee Cheuk-yiu is among those who have lamented that many athletes had given up because of the low levels of financial support. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Tony Choi, chief executive of the Hong Kong Sports Institute, has discouraged the public from viewing subsidies for athletes as salaries. Photo: Edmond So

Paris Olympics: HK$10 million per gold? Hong Kong lawmaker wants taxpayer to match prizes, city reveals no fixed medal target

Siobhan Haughey leads Hong Kong’s medal hopefuls in Paris. Photo: AFP

Cheung Ka-long holds his Olympic gold, for which he received a cash bonus. Photo: AP

Hong Kong Sports Institute has been keen to manage public expectations ahead of Paris. Photo: Winson Wong

Sport

Hong Kong

Paris Olympics 2024

Vice-chairman of Hong Kong Sports Institute outlines 10 policy proposals to improve international performance, create a stronger environment


Vice-chairman of Hong Kong Sports Institute outlines 10 policy proposals to improve international performance, create a stronger environment.


Paris 2024 Olympic Games