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The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) is delighted to welcome The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust as the title sponsor of the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (the Scheme), to recognise and encourage outstanding achievements by Hong Kong athletes at six Major Games from 2016 to 2018, including the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games, 2017 World University Games, 2017 National Games, as well as 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games.

The announcement was made today at the Launch Ceremony officiated by Mr Carlson Tong Ka-shing SBS JP, Chairman of the HKSI; Dr Simon S O Ip CBE JP, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club); Mr Timothy Fok Tsun-ting GBS JP, President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China; and Mrs Jenny Fung Ma Kit-han BBS JP, President of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled.

Expressing his gratitude for the support of the Club, Mr Tong said, “The Club has a long tradition of supporting local sports development and this funding for the Scheme represents their prolonged appreciation and encouragement to Hong Kong athletes.  We value the tremendous efforts the athletes put into giving their very best to bring out glory to Hong Kong, and gratitude to the Club for partnering with us in encouraging athletes to achieve success at the upcoming Major Games.”

Dr Ip explained that the Club’s support for the Scheme reflects its comprehensive support for the HKSI and Hong Kong athletes, and its broader commitment to promoting “Sports for All” - one of three areas of strategic focus for the Club’s community contributions over the next few years.  With regard to the Club’s support for the HKSI, Dr Ip said: “In 1992 the Club provided an endowment of HK$200 million to set up a trust fund, now known as the Hong Kong Jockey Club Elite Athletes Fund under which the Athlete High Performance Programmes and Athlete Career-Path Programmes are being offered to support top athletes training at the HKSI.  Indeed, over the last decade the Club has contributed over HK$1.6 billion to support both hardware and software sports development.  In 2013, the Club contributed over HK$100 million to the HKSI to redevelop its former athlete hostel into the Jockey Club Sports Building for elite athletes and coaches.  This year, the Club further funded a HK$9.7 million Coach Education Programme at the HKSI.  All of this support will enable athletes and coaches to concentrate on their sporting careers.”

In regard to the soon approaching Rio Olympic Games, under the Scheme, any Hong Kong Olympian who wins a gold medal in an individual event will be awarded a cash incentive of HK$3 million, while silver and bronze medallists will receive HK$1.5 million and HK$0.75 million respectively.  Teams that win gold, silver and bronze medals will be presented with cash awards of HK$4.2 million, HK$2.1 million and HK$1.05 million respectively.

Badminton player Lee Chun-hei, silver medallist in the mixed doubles event at the Badminton Asia Championships 2015, welcomed the announcement, saying, “As elite athletes, we are working very hard every day to excel in our sport in order to be ready for all the challenges ahead in the international sporting arena.  This incentive award scheme is certainly recognition of our efforts.”

Wheelchair fencer Yu Chui-yee, who has won seven gold medals at the last three Paralympic Games, also said, “Medals are what we are pursuing, and appreciation and support from the community are very important to motivate us to train hard.  Thank you once again to all those who recognise our contribution to the Hong Kong sports industry and appreciate our enduring perseverance.”

Under the Scheme, any Paralympian who wins a gold medal in an individual event at the Rio Paralympic Games will be presented with a cash incentive of HK$0.4 million, while cash incentives of HK$0.2 million and HK$0.1 million will be awarded to silver and bronze medallists respectively.  Teams that win gold, silver and bronze medals will receive cash incentives of HK$0.56 million, HK$0.28 million and HK$0.14 million accordingly.

Over the past 40 years, the Club has donated more than HK$700 million to support the HKSI and athletes’ development.  The Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme was initiated by the HKSI in 1994 to recognise and encourage Hong Kong medallists who have excellent achievements at Major Games.