Supporting Athletes
The HKSI recognises the importance of a whole-person development approach to athlete development. It offers athletes educational and career planning services to cater for their different needs at various stages of their sporting careers.
Educational Support
Inaugurated in 2015, the Partnership School Programme (PSP) with the English Schools Foundation and Lam Tai Fai College provides a tailor-made curriculum to meet young athletes’ training and education needs, enabling them to train full-time while studying at senior secondary level. A class of 13 athletes graduated in the 2018/19 academic year, and among them, four were enrolled in tertiary institutions. In addition to this, 27 athletes successfully joined the PSP for the 2019/20 academic year. As at 31 March 2020, a total of 72 athletes were studying under the Programme.
In 2019/20, the HKSI signed an MOU with the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in May 2019, and with the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong in December 2019. As of 31 March 2020, 11 tertiary institutions were engaged in MOUs with the HKSI, supporting athletes on their dual career pathways. A total of 18 full-time athletes were admitted to higher diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate programmes in the 2019/20 academic year under the MOUs.
The HKSI also provides general education and career planning services to athletes, such as tutorial support, continuing education subsidies, and scholarships for athletes who are enrolled in the PSP. As at 31 March 2020, 350 athletes received educational support.
Athletes may also apply for grants to cover tuition fees as well as subsistence allowances through the Hong Kong Athletes Fund. In 2019/20, HK$1.88 million of funding was approved to cover tuition fees of 14 athletes up to the 2024/25 academic year. The recipients were Chan Man-fung (roller sports), Chan Tsz-ching (rugby), Chang Tak-ching (badminton), Doo Hoi-kem (table tennis), Lam Chin-chun (life saving), Lam San-tung (rowing), Law Leong-tim (triathlon), Leung Bo-yee (cycling), Lim Zhaoguang (swimming), Mak Tze-wing (table tennis), Poon Pak-yan (rugby), Sat Pak-long (wushu), Tang Tsoi-lam (swimming) and Wong Wai-chun (rowing).
MOUs Signed with Tertiary Institutions in 2019/20
2
Elite Athletes Admitted to Tertiary Institutions in 2019/20 Under MOUs
18
Athletes Studying Under PSP in 2019/20
72
Partnership School Athletes Admitted to Tertiary Institutions in 2019/20
4
Vocational Development
In addition to educational support, the HKSI also helps elite athletes transit from competition to a career in sports coaching through the Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Programme. The programme enables elite athletes who plan to retire within two years to develop coaching skills and gain practical coaching experience to prepare for a new career after competition. The programme has benefited 30 athletes since its launch in 2008, and has been sponsored by the Western Harbour Tunnel Company since 2013.
The Elite Athletes Performance Recognition Scheme, set up in 2015 under the Hong Kong Athletes Fund, continued to support athletes’ pursuit of a second career after retiring from high-level sporting competition. The scheme has benefited 27 athletes to date.
Social & Personal Development
The HKSI has in place other tailor-made programmes that enable athletes to dedicate themselves to an elite training lifestyle in parallel with social and personal development.
In 2019/20, 32 workshops and experiential activities were organised for 713 Scholarship Athletes, offering them learning opportunities in areas such as multi-media, relationship building and communication skills.
Athletes are also provided with opportunities to exchange views and insights with counterparts from mainland China and other countries. These activities broaden their knowledge and understanding of the structure and development of different sports systems. A Singapore Exchange Tour was held from 7 to 10 January 2020 for 18 athletes from eight sports. They visited the Singapore Sports Institute, National Youth Sports Institute and Singapore Sports School, in order to learn about the athlete pathway in Singapore and also the dual career support for athletes there. Cultural exchange programmes were also arranged for the athletes to explore local traditions.
As at 31 March 2020, the Athlete Hostel, which provides a comfortable professional base, accommodated 412 elite athletes.
