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HKSI Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme Boosts Morale of Hong Kong Athletes for the Asian Games and FESPIC Games

07 November 2006

Officiating guests of the “Hong Kong Sports Institute Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme for the Asian Games & FESPIC Games 2006” Launch Ceremony (rear row from left) Dr Eric Li, Chairman of the HKSI, Mrs Vivien Fung, Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong Delegation to the 15^th Doha Asian Games, and Mrs Jenny Fung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled make wishes on a ‘Support Hong Kong Athletes’ display board as a gesture of support to the Hong Kong athletes who will participate in the upcoming Asian Games & FESPIC Games. (Front row from right) The 2002 Asian Games squash gold medallist Rebecca Chiu, 2002 FESPIC Games gold medallist Yu Chui-yee, as well as 2004 Olympic table tennis silver medallists Ko Lai-chak and Li Ching represent other athletes to receive the display board. Read More

Debut at the Asian Games, shuttler Yip Pui-yin (left) and sprinter Leung Hau-sze (right) share their preparation progress for the Games with guests at the Hong Kong Sports Institute Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme Launch Ceremony. They also hope Hong Kong athletes can win more medals for Hong Kong at the Asian Games & FESPIC Games. Read More

Three officiating guests including Dr Eric Li, Chairman of the HKSI (fourth from left of second row), Mrs Vivien Fung, Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong Delegation to the 15^th Doha Asian Games (third from left of second row), and Mrs Jenny Fung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (fifth from left of second row) and guests from other sporting organisations cheer Hong Kong athletes at the Launch Ceremony of the Hong Kong Sports Institute Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme before their participation in the upcoming Asian Games & FESPIC Games. Read More

Presented by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), the Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, established in 1994, aims at recognising outstanding achievements of Hong Kong athletes at the Major Games.

Medal winners at the two forthcoming Major Games – Doha Asian Games and the Far East & South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC Games) in Kuala Lumpur will continue to receive cash awards from the Scheme.

At the Launch Ceremony held at the HKSI today, HKSI Chairman Dr Eric Li said, "I am happy to see the standard of sports in Hong Kong is improving on the international stage. Athletes should be acknowledged for their hard work and effort. Providing them tangible rewards is one of the best ways."

He added, "The HKSAR Government's recent Policy Address announced that additional resources would be allocated to elite athletes development. It just comes at the right time! It definitely gives athletes an extra boost before the Asian Games and FESPIC Games."

A team gold medal at the Asian Games in Doha will be rewarded HK$350,000, followed by HK$200,000 and HK$100,000 for a silver and bronze medal respectively whereas the awards for individual events are HK$250,000, HK$125,000 and HK$50,000.

The Hong Kong team will be represented by its largest ever delegation at the Doha Games with almost 281 athletes taking part in 28 disciplines. Hong Kong first participated in the Asiad in 1954 and clinched 4 gold, 6 silver and 11 bronze medals at the last Games which was held at Busan, South Korea four years ago.

Hong Kong will also be sending its largest ever team of 135 athletes to the FESPIC Games in Kuala Lumpur, to be held from 25 November to 1 December. The FESPIC was first started in 1975 when Hong Kong captured 15 gold, 6 silver and 13 bronze medals. At the last Games in Busan four years ago, Hong Kong collected 27 gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze medals.

For individual events (except demonstration / exhibition events) in the FESPIC Games, a gold medal will be awarded HK$15,000 while silver and bronze medals will be given HK$6,000 and HK$3,000 respectively. In team events, the incentives would be HK21,000 for gold, HK$9,600 for silver and HK$6,000 for bronze medals.

Rebecca Chiu, a gold medallist in the 2002 Asian Games, expressed, "The Asian Games is contested by the best athletes from the region and some of them are in fact the best in the world as well. I would like to thank the HKSI for providing the Scheme which will certainly boost our morale before we set off for the Games."

"We have been working hard for the FESPIC Games and are delighted to be recognised by the Scheme and the community. We will give our best in the competition so as not to let Hong Kong people down," said Yu Chui-yee, a gold medallist in the 2002 FESPIC Games.