News

To encourage Hong Kong athletes to achieve outstanding results at the Games of the XXX Olympiad (OG) and the XIV Paralympic Games (PG) in London this summer, the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) is partnering with Hang Seng Bank again to offer cash incentives to local medallists under the Hang Seng Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (the Scheme).

Rose Lee, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, visited the athletes who have already qualified for or are training hard for a berth at the OG and PG, at the HKSI earlier to express the strong support of the Bank. She also presented an illustration to the athletes as encouragement for them to excel at the Games.

Carlson Tong, Chairman of the HKSI, thanked Hang Seng Bank, saying, “While the local athletes are preparing in full gear for the OG and PG, it’s exciting to learn that their efforts are recognised by other sectors of the society, apart from the full support from the Government and the HKSI.”

Rose Lee said, “Hang Seng Bank has been awarding outstanding local athletes through the Scheme since 1996, which reflects our long-term commitment to local sports development. The Bank would like to send our best wishes to the Hong Kong athletes. We sincerely hope that they will gain invaluable experience and achieve remarkable results in the two upcoming Major Games. We look forward to congratulating them on their triumphant return.”

Cash incentives offered under the Scheme to the 2012 OG and PG medallists, to be provided by both the HKSI and Hang Seng Bank, will be significantly increased by several times this year, compared with those offered at both Games in 2008.

The OG will be held from 27 July to 12 August. Under the Scheme, individual gold, silver or bronze medallists will receive HK$3 million, HK$1.5 million and HK$750,000 respectively. The awards for team events are HK$4.2 million for gold, HK$2.1 million for silver and HK$1.05 million for bronze.

Yip Pui-yin, a badminton player who has benefited from the Scheme and will represent Hong Kong in the women’s singles at the OG, stated, “I am really thankful to the HKSI for organising the Scheme and Hang Seng Bank for its generous support which represents the recognition from the commercial sector for athletes.”

Wheelchair fencer Yu Chui-yee, who is preparing for the PG, expressed her determination to win. She said, “To gain medals in the OG and PG is definitely a difficult task as the competitions are contested by the world’s top athletes. Yet I will be well prepared and equipped to face the challenge. Hopefully, I will be returning victoriously with medals to receive praise and rewards from the Scheme.”

The PG will be staged from 29 August to 9 September. Under the Scheme, individual gold medallists will receive HK$300,000, while HK$150,000 and HK$75,000 will be presented to silver and bronze medallists respectively. The awards for team events are HK$420,000 for gold, HK$210,000 for silver and HK$105,000 for bronze.

Organised by the HKSI since 1994, the Scheme provides cash awards to medal winners at Major Games. Hang Seng Bank began sponsoring the Scheme in 1996, providing additional cash incentives to local athletes who achieve outstanding performances at the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games and the National Games. It subsequently included winning athletes from the East Asian Games in 2005 and medallists from the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games in 2010, to further support the development of local sports.

Since 1996, the Scheme has given out over HK$26.6 million to more than 330 outstanding local athletes.