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Thousands Visit “HKSI Open Day 2024 x Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme”, with a rare chance to meet local elite athletes in person

17 March 2024

Community unites behind elite sport at today’s HKSI Open Day 2024 x Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme. Read More

(From left) Mr Tony Choi MH, Chief Executive of the HKSI; Mr Tang King-shing GBS PDSM, Chairman of the HKSI; Mr Sam Wong Tak-sum MH, Commissioner for Sports, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau; Ms Donna Tang, Executive Manager, Charities (Sports & Institute of Philanthropy) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; wushu athlete Mok Uen-ying; and karatedo athlete Lau Chi-ming, celebrate the first HKSI Open Day since the pandemic at the HKSI Open Day 2024 x Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme event today. Read More

A parade of elite athletes mark the HKSI Open Day 2024 x Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme today in Sha Tin. (From 2^nd left) Para table tennis athlete Fan Ka-ho, tenpin bowling athletes Tse Chun-hin, Wu Siu-hong, Para badminton athlete Chu Man-kai, wushu athlete Mok Uen-ying, rowing athlete Wong Wai-chun, triathlon athlete Choi Yan-yin, karatedo athlete Lau Chi-ming, athletics athlete Pak Hoi-man Chloe, and fencing athlete Wong Shun-yat. Read More

Community unites behind elite sport at today’s HKSI Open Day 2024 x Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme. (From left) Para table tennis athlete Fan Ka-ho; tenpin bowling athlete Tse Chun-hin and Wu Siu-hong; rowing athlete Wong Wai-chun; Para badminton athlete Chu Man-kai; Ron Lee, Director of Community Relations and Marketing of the HKSI; Tony Choi, Chief Executive of the HKSI; Tang King-shing, Chairman of the HKSI; Sam Wong, Commissioner for Sports, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau; Donna Tang, Executive Manager, Charities (Sports & Institute of Philanthropy) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; wushu athlete Mok Uen-ying; karatedo athlete Lau Chi-ming; triathlon athlete Choi Yan-yin; athletics athlete Pak Hoi-man Chloe; and fencing athlete Wong Shun-yat. Read More

(From 2<sup>nd</sup> left) Triathlon athlete Choi

(From 2^nd left) Triathlon athlete Choi Yan-yin, karatedo athlete Lau Chi-ming, Para badminton athlete Chu Man-kai and wushu athlete Mok Uen-ying in a special sharing session at the HKSI Open Day 2024 x Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme event today in Sha Tin. Read More

The HKSI hosted two-day Open Day sessions on 16 and 17 March, featuring a new “HKSI and Sports Science & Technology Zone” that helped visitors learn more about the HKSI through fun interactive games about sports nutrition and biomechanics. Read More

The HKSI Open Day 2024 featured a number of interactive activities for public, including sports tryouts, fitness challenges and elite athlete sports demonstrations and sharing sessions, increasing community understanding of elite sports development. Read More

The HKSI guided tour offered visitors a close-up look at the HKSI’s world- class training venues and facilities. Read More

Thousands of people flocked to the HKSI in Fo Tan on 16 and 17 March for the first HKSI Open Day since 2020. HKSI Open Day 2024 was hosted in conjunction with the Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme (Sports PLUS), which was launched in 2023 with the aim of supercharging local interest in sport by facilitating greater interaction between Hong Kong elite athletes and the community.

From the Tokyo Olympics to the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, Hong Kong’s athletes have thrilled fellow citizens with golden sporting moments and amazing results at numerous international competitions. In addition, the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics are on the way this summer, while Hong Kong has been named as one of the co-hosts of the 15^thNational Games of China. All of this has generated great interest in the HKSI’s work to develop elite sports and athletes in the city, spurring attendance at this weekend’s HKSI Open Day.

On 16 March, the HKSI hosted over 1,000 visitors from local schools and community organisations. On 17 March, it opened to the wider public. The Open Day featured guided tours, sports tryouts, fitness challenges and elite athlete demonstrations and sharing. A brand-new feature, the “HKSI and Sports Science & Technology Zone”, enabled visitors to learn more about the HKSI through fun and interactive games about sports nutrition and biomechanics.

At the Opening Ceremony, Mr Tang King-shing GBS PDSM, Chairman of the HKSI, expressed his gratitude to everyone who has helped to make the Open Day a successful community event, especially The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). “The HKSAR Government has been very supportive of the development of elite sports in recent years by enhancing relevant policies and invested more resources in elite training to help talented athletes pursue their dreams. In addition, the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee, and various national sports associations and partners have been working closely with the HKSI to provide comprehensive support to athletes so that they can strike a balance between training and study, allowing them to perform at their best during international competitions.”

The HKJC and the HKSI have been partners for over 40 years, with HKJC donating over HK$750 million to support facilities and programmes promoting elite sports development. In 2021, HKJC donated HK$150 million to establish a Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme with the HKSAR Government. Through upgrading sports science equipment and improving sports medicine, the scheme will help better prepare athletes for competition. Last year, HKJC also funded the HKSI’s Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, which recognises Hong Kong athletes for their achievement in major sports events.

Ms Donna Tang, Executive Manager, Charities (Sports & Institute of Philanthropy) of HKJC said, “Sports not only benefit mental and physical health, but also help to build and unite society, which is the core objective of the Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme. This is in line with the Club’s commitment to the betterment of our society, which is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate employment, tax and charity support for the community.”

Elite athletes including Pak Hoi-man Chloe (Athletics), Wong Shun-yat (Fencing), Lau Chi-ming (Karatedo), Wong Wai-chun (Rowing), Tse Chun-hin, Wu Siu-hong (Tenpin Bowling), Choi Yan-yin (Triathlon), Mok Uen-ying (Wushu), Chu Man-kai (Para Badminton) and Fan Ka-ho (Para Table Tennis), shared their journey with participants at the Ceremony.

Karatedo athlete Lau Chi-ming said, “It’s great to be hosting the HKSI Open Day again. Seeing so many visitors here today really shows me how deep the support for elite athletes is in the city, and it drives me to work even harder to perform for Hong Kong.”

Mok Uen-ying from wushu also said, “I really enjoy taking part in community activities such as those hosted by the Jockey Club Sports PLUS Elite Athletes Community Programme, which gives me the opportunity to share my experience as an elite athlete, thereby encouraging people to participate in sport and physical activities as well as to chase for their dreams with passion. This is a huge motivator for me in my career.”

Participants in the Open Day were invited to join an exclusive tour of the training base of Hong Kong Team athletes in Fo Tan. By taking a close-up look at the HKSI’s world class training venues and facilities, they were able to learn more about the work of the HKSI in supporting the city’s elite athletes. In addition, 13 National Sports Associations set up booths to promote different elite sports through tryouts, including golf, rowing, rugby, windsurfing and more. Meanwhile, kids were invited to take part in physical fitness tests designed by the HKSI Talent Identification and Development team to unleash their sports talent.

Through its annual Open Day, the HKSI aims to introduce the role of the HKSI and to continue supporting elite sports development in Hong Kong.