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A new Special Incentive Fund has been launched to provide cash incentives to athletes who can achieve medals at various levels of international competitions and in attaining the qualification to the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Fund, administered by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) with financial support from the Government's Facility and Programme Donations Scheme and the Grantham Scholarships Fund, provides the athletes a total funding support of HK$9 million over four years.

The Special Incentive Fund will benefit athletes under the HKSI's scholarship programme, covering more than 600 athletes from 13 elite sports and Individual Athletes Support Scheme, as well as the athletes of the two sports associations for the disabled .

Cash incentives will be disbursed to recipients according to results achieved at international competitions from 2006 to 2009, ranging from invitational events to world championships or the Olympic Games.

Other than the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2009 East Asian Games in Hong Kong, it is also hoped that the Fund can help athletes prepare for the 2006 Asian Games, Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC), 2007 Asian Indoor Games, 2008 Paralympic Games and 2009 National Games.

At a launch ceremony held at the HKSI today (Monday), over 170 athletes who returned with criterion results during the period from January to June 2006, were presented with cash awards at a total amount of around HK$1,364,000 as the first batch recipients for the Fund.

"We are happy to see increased support from the Government with this new financial award to assist Hong Kong's elite athletes." said Wong Kam-po, 2005 National Games bronze medallist in cycling.

"The next couple of years will be very important to us as we will be preparing for a number of Major Games, including the Olympic Games as well as the East Asian Games which will be held on our home ground. I am sure the new Fund will provide the extra support we need to achieve better results in these Games," he added.

Olympic table tennis silver medallist Ko Lai-chak said, "It recognises our hard work and effort in the pursuit of sporting excellence and it's an honour to receive the award."

Paralympic wheelchair fencing gold medallist Yu Chui-yee was also appreciative of the financial support, saying "Disabled athletes are also required to invest maximum effort in order to achieve international results. I am glad that the Fund also acknowledges our contribution," she said.

"Disabled athletes have been doing very well at the past FESPIC Games and Paralympic Games and we hope more Hong Kong people will support us when we take part in the two Games again in 2006 and 2008 respectively."

Officiating guests Dr Patrick Ho, Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Eric Li, Chairman of the HKSI, Lam Pei-yu-dja, Member of the Advisory Committee on Disbursement of Donations of the Facility and Programme Donations Scheme and Chan Yin-hung, Member of the Grantham Scholarships Fund Committee, signed their names on a commemorative display board as a gesture of support to the HKSI Scholarship Athletes and in appreciation of athletes' dedication and commitment in the pursuit of sporting excellence.

The Facility and Programme Donations Scheme was set up in 2004 under the Home Affairs Bureau and operates in collaboration with the Home Affairs Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It has all along been the policy of the Government to promote arts and culture, recreation and sports and community building. The Scheme fosters the spirit of public participation, as well as enhances the public's sense of belonging and commitment to the community. With enthusiastic participation and generous donations from the public, a larger number of worthwhile projects, including provision of community cultural and recreational facilities and organisation of enriching activities, can be implemented.

The Grantham Scholarships Fund was established in 1955 under the Grantham Scholarships Fund Ordinance (Cap. 1076) to commemorate the Governorship of Sir Alexander Grantham. The objective of the Fund is to promote and encourage local education, and in particular for the provision, for persons resident in Hong Kong, of scholarships and maintenance grants in primary schools, secondary schools, pre-vocational schools, technical schools and institutions of higher education in Hong Kong.

Details of the Special Incentive Fund for HKSI Scholarship Athletes (PDF)