HK institutions rally to expedite development of elite sports post Olympic success

Hong Kong's Olympics triumph has spurred the government and private sectors to offer more benefits to athletes or construct more training facilities. Most recently, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has announced a plan to boost research and development in elite sports. 

The HKJC said its Charities Trust will provide HK$150 million in funding to match the government's HK$150 million grant to boost research and development in elite sports in the coming three years. The Booster Fund, totaling HK$300 million, will support areas including the upgrading of sport-tech equipment and installation, advancements in sports medicine. The fund is also aimed at helping athletes prepare for the 2022 Asian and Asian Para Games, the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and other single-sport international events during the period.

"The Club has always been a staunch supporter of sports promotion in Hong Kong. We're mindful that to reach the top, it's important to approach the goal step by step in a progressive way. That's why the HKJC has been promoting sports development in an all-rounded and comprehensive manner at all levels, in schools and among other age groups," said Philip Chen, chairman of the HKJC. 

In the area of elite sports development, the HKJC has offered funding support for training facilities and programmes for athletes to compete in national and international competitions. One of the key initiatives was the establishment of the Hong Kong Sports Institute opened in 1982 and has since been providing world-class training and support to home-grown athletes and coaches. 

The HKJC's funding is part of the Hong Kong government's measures to support Hong Kong's athletes. The government's plans include the construction of a new building spanning 97,000 square feet at the Hong Kong Sports Institute which is expected to open in 2024. The building will include extra training facilities, additional dormitories for athletes along with a new rest house and centre for sports science and medicine. Apart from these facilities, the new building will have a new yet bigger fencing stadium.

The University of Hong Kong said the HKU Foundation is stepping up to provide awards and scholarships to support young athletes. For the upcoming academic year, HKU will offer scholarships totaling $500,000 to outstanding student athletes admitted through its Sports Scholarship Scheme. Other support includes residential scholarships, flexible curriculum, academic advising, international exchange, and subsidies for sports training and competitions. HKU will award a $100,000 scholarship to each of the three current students who represented Hong Kong at the Olympics to support their academic and sports career developments.

Meanwhile, some public transport companies are celebrating the athletes' success in the city. For example, KMB has re-decorated the exteriors of two buses with Olympics-themed design. Rolled out on 10 August, the two buses cover route 66X travelling between Tuen Mun (Tai Hing Estate) and Olympic Stations, as well as 270B between Sheung Shui and Olympic Stations, showcase the silhouettes of Hong Kong's athletes and the Olympic Rings, signifying the sports programmes that Hong Kong athletes were competing in. 

The buses contain the sentence "Proud of You" to thank the athletes' efforts to create history for Hong Kong. 

Also, Octopus Card will offer bespoke Octopus Cards to athletes with each featuring drawings of themselves created by photorealist artist Paul Lung, capturing the unforgettable moments for them. According to a report from The Standard, a spokesperson of Octopus Card said the company hoped to praise the athletes for their perseverance and determination and to commemorate their triumphant moments at the Olympics.

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