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Elite Training

The HKSI is the Government’s designated organisation to provide a world-standard training and support environment for high performance athletes, enabling them to excel in the international sporting arena.

Committed to providing science-based, athlete-centred support for elite training, we employ a multi-disciplinary biopsychosocial model. Sustained funding support also plays a pivotal role in athletes’ continuing success. The Elite Athletes Development Fund provides the HKSI with a stable, long-term source of funding, empowering us to ensure financial stability for elite athletes so they can focus on training and international competitions.

Our facilities include an indoor Sports Complex featuring world standard training venues for badminton, billiard sports, fencing, karatedo, squash, table tennis, tenpin bowling and wushu, alongside integrated sports facilities for athletes with disabilities, an Athletic Field, an international standard indoor Swimming Complex, a Rowing Centre and Tennis Courts. Off-site facilities are also provided for other Tier A sports.

HKSI’s 21st Century Elite Training System

HKSI’s 21st Century Elite Training System

The HKSI’s elite sport system framework combines policy/management and science models to articulate a 21st century elite training delivery system. 

It is an athlete-centred system bounded by best practice principles of corporate governance on the one hand, and the scientific principles of the biopsychosocial model on the other. The biopsychosocial model of athlete development recognises the interaction of biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors which impact on athlete development. 

The HKSI is structured to provide centralised, integrated support systems targeting all aspects of the athletes’ physiological, psychological, social support, and personal development needs. The critical success factors, which are directly related to the systematic development of elite athletes, are portrayed inside the circle, while support activities which are not directly related to individual athletes’ development but which improve the provision and efficient functioning of the elite training system, are portrayed outside the circle.

Direct Financial Support to Athletes

In 2019/20, the HKSI provided HK$130.51 million to 1,080 athletes through six Direct Financial Support schemes (DFS) – Elite Training Grant (ETG), Elite Training Grant for Athletes with Disabilities (ETGD), Sports Aid Grant (SAG), Sports Aid Grant for Athletes with Disabilities (SAGD), Individual Athletes Support Scheme (IASS) and the Jockey Club World Championships Performance Scheme (JCWCPS), to provide them with a financially stable environment in which to train and compete in Major Games.
 

Elite Training Grant

HK$ 92.06M

789 ATHLETES

Elite Training Grant for
Athletes
with Disabilities

HK$ 8.51M

46ATHLETES

Sports Aid Grant

HK$ 8.73M

148ATHLETES

Sports Aid Grant for Athletes with Disabilities

HK$ 0.38M

8ATHLETES

Individual Athletes Support
Scheme

HK$ 19.45M

89ATHLETES

Jockey Club World
Championships Performance
Scheme

HK$ 1.38M

47*ATHLETES

TOTAL

HK$ 130.51M

1,080ATHLETES

* Also recipients of other DFS
Remarks: recipient lists are at Annex 3, Annex 4, Annex 5 and Annex 6

Tier A & Tier B Sports

Under the Government’s Elite Vote Support Scheme (EVSS), senior and junior athletes’ achievements at major international competitions serve as the selection criteria for identifying the high performance sports to be supported by the HKSI for a four-year period. Sports are categorised into three levels: Tier A*, Tier A and Tier B. A review is conducted every two years and is aligned with Asian Games and Olympic Games cycles to provide stable support.

In 2019/20, 20 Tier A sports – athletics, badminton, billiard sports, cycling, equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, karatedo, rowing, rugby sevens, sailing, skating, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling, triathlon, windsurfing and wushu – were supported by the HKSI. These were provided with funding for elite training, coaching teams led by a Head Coach, full sports science and sports medicine support, and athlete development programmes. Four of these sports – badminton, cycling, table tennis and windsurfing – whose athletes have consistently performed at the highest level and have the potential to win medals at the Olympics were selected as Tier A* sports. They have also received additional resources required to enhance specific areas of their Olympic preparation programmes up to the Tokyo Olympics.

Funding and support were also provided to 13 Tier B sports – contract bridge, dance sports, dragon boat, golf, judo, kart, lawn bowls, life saving, mountaineering, orienteering, roller sports, shuttlecock and taekwondo – to support the corresponding Elite Training Programmes.

Tier A & Tier B Para Sports

Under the EVSS for para sports, athletes’ achievements at international competitions are used to identify Tier A and Tier B sports to be supported by the HKSI for a period of four years. Reviews aligning with the Asian Para Games and Paralympic Games cycles are conducted every two years. In 2019/20, Tier A included badminton, boccia, table tennis, and wheelchair fencing for athletes with physical disabilities; and swimming and table tennis for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Tier B included lawn bowls and tenpin bowling for athletes with physical disabilities.

Five-Year Development Programme for Team Sports

The Government implemented a five-year development programme for team sports in January 2018, aiming to progressively enhance the performance of team sports, with a view to attaining elite sports status in the future. This programme covers eight team sports with team sizes of five or above featured in the Asian Games or Asian Winter Games; these include baseball, basketball, handball, hockey, ice hockey, softball, volleyball and water polo.

The programme provides additional funding to the eight National Sports Associations (NSAs) to formulate and implement training programmes for Hong Kong to compete in the two Major Games. From 2019 onwards, the additional funding for each representative team ranges from HK$420,000 to HK$700,000 per year. This has been made according to the number of team members allowed to register in the two Games. Apart from the funding support, members of the Hong Kong team will receive a monthly allowance of HK$4,000 if they meet training requirements.

Funding for NSAs

In 2019/20, a total of HK$24 million was provided to support Tier A sports for international title events held outside Hong Kong, and their national and junior squad training programmes. The HKSI also provided HK$21.6 million to the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled and the Hong Kong Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability to support their Elite Training Programmes.

Scientific Support

In order to provide science-based, athlete-centred support for elite training, the HKSI uses the multi-disciplinary biopsychosocial model to formulate its support strategy. There are six centres in the Elite Training Science & Technology Division: the Scientific Conditioning Centre, Sport Biomechanics & Technology Centre, Sport Nutrition Monitoring Centre, Sport Psychology Centre, Sports Medicine Centre, and Sports Information & External Affairs Centre.

They work as a team to identify any training issues or concerns, and develop evidence-based solutions with coaches. The support procedures are regularly updated through continuous monitoring, discussion and benchmarking against the latest research data. Each year, the Division works with NSAs to identify and develop potential athletes through talent identification programmes, and organises seminars, lectures and workshops for athletes and coaches, NSAs, local and overseas tertiary and sports institutes, as well as other collaborative partners. Publications are produced to boost education and foster exchange between the HKSI and elite sport professionals in applied sports science and medicine.
 

Overseas On-field Support Provided to Athletes (No. of Staff Days)

95

SPORT NUTRITION

345

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

1,564

SPORTS MEDICINE

510

SPORT BIOMECHANICS
& TECHNOLOGY

1,004

SCIENTIFIC CONDITIONING

Service Sessions Provided to Athletes

28,753

SPORT NUTRITION

4,631

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

36,713

SPORTS MEDICINE

9,224

SPORT BIOMECHANICS
& TECHNOLOGY

7,173

SCIENTIFIC CONDITIONING

Participants in Talent Identification Programmes

743