News

Tomorrow (15 June) is the start of the 150-day countdown to the 16^th Asian Games (AG), which will be held in Guangzhou. To encourage Hong Kong athletes to achieve outstanding results at the AG and the 10^th Asian Para Games (APG), the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) is partnering with Hang Seng Bank to offer cash incentives to local medallists under the Hang Seng Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (Scheme).

This year is the first time the AG and APG have been included in the Scheme. Cash incentives offered by the HKSI will be matched by Hang Seng on a dollar-for-dollar basis, with Hong Kong medallists now eligible for cash rewards that are close to double those on offer at Games in previous years.

The AG will be held from 12 to 27 November in Guangzhou. Under the Scheme, incentives will be increased from HK$250,000 to HK$400,000 for individual gold medallists, while HK$200,000 and HK$100,000 will be given to silver and bronze medallists respectively. The awards for team events will be increased to HK$800,000 for gold, HK$400,000 for silver and HK$200,000 for bronze.

HKSI Chairman Dr Eric Li thanked Hang Seng for its support, saying, “The Government and the HKSI are determined to achieve breakthrough sporting results at the upcoming Major Games. We have set high targets and Hang Seng’s support is essential in providing additional motivation to local athletes to achieve these goals.”

Mrs Margaret Leung, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, said, “Hang Seng is proud to be a long-standing supporter of sports development in Hong Kong. Given our strong commitment to the mainland China market, we are pleased to include this year’s AG and APG to be held in Guangzhou in the Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme and sincerely hope that Hong Kong athletes will continue to demonstrate the ‘can-do’ spirit of the Hong Kong people and return with outstanding results.”

Wong Kam-po, a gold medallist at the 1998 and 2006 AG, said, “The Asian Games is contested by the best athletes in the region, many of whom are world class. I would like to thank the HKSI for organising the Scheme and Hang Seng for its generous support, which will certainly strengthen the focus and efforts of local athletes in their preparations for the Games.”

The Guangzhou APG will be staged from 12 to 19 December. Under the Scheme, incentives will be increased from HK$15,000 to HK$40,000 for individual gold medallists, while HK$20,000 and HK$10,000 will be given to silver and bronze medallists respectively. The awards for team events will be increased to HK$80,000 for gold, HK$40,000 for silver and HK$20,000 for bronze.

Organised by the HKSI since 1994, the HKSI Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme provides cash awards to medal winners at seven Major Games. Hang Seng Bank began to sponsor the Scheme in 1996, providing additional cash incentives to local athletes who achieve outstanding performances at the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, the National Games and the East Asian Games. This year, the Bank has extended its cash incentives to medallists at the AP and APG to further support the development of local sports.

Under the Scheme, about HK$16,000,000 has been awarded to 285 local athletes since 1996, of which nearly HK$9,000,000 has been given by Hang Seng Bank.