News

Following is the speech of Dr Trisha Leahy, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), in the agenda of promotion of sports development at the meeting of the Panel on Home Affairs of the Legislative Council today (8 January):

“Internationally, many countries are grappling with the complex issue of how to produce successful, sustainable, and cost-effective world-class elite sport outcomes.  Evidence from the most successful sporting nations points to the fact that there is no short cut in the elite sport investment pathway and success is dependent, not only on the individual athlete’s talent, but on an integrated, comprehensive system which facilitates each athlete’s development.

The critical success factors required for the system to work effectively include: world-class training facilities; high performance coaching supported by evidence-based scientific and medical systems; access to high level competition opportunities; and a comprehensive athlete support system that allows athletes to be able to focus on their high performance goals.

The HKSI, the Government’s elite training systems delivery agent, views the Government’s elite sport policy and related policy initiatives as moving in a very positive and dynamic forward direction, strategically addressing these critical success factors. 

For example, the Government’s approximately HK$1.8 billion investment in world-class training facilities at the HKSI is well under way. Currently nearing the end of the first phase, the HKSI’s operation will in a few weeks move back to Fo Tan to a renovated world standard training environment, with upgraded athletics, badminton, fencing, squash and table tennis facilities; significantly expanded sports science, medicine and fitness training centres containing the most up-to-date equipment. By the time the entire project is fully completed, the HKSI campus will be a state-of-the-art training centre for elite athletes with fully integrated facilities for elite athletes with disabilities and a completely barrier-free environment.

Another significant initiative, which is having a very positive impact on elite sport outcomes, is the establishment of the enhanced direct financial support to athletes in 2007. This performance-based financial support system (over HK$40 million a year), allows athletes to be able to focus on the job of training and to cope with the rigours of a high performance lifestyle without worrying about how to support themselves.  Additionally other benefits provided through the HKSI’s elite training funding (approximately HK$50 million per year), include full accommodation, meals, training and competition expenses, equipment, medical, etc.  Rounding out the athlete support system, is a throughway education and career development pathway, which can be accessed by elite athlete in training at the HKSI, and as they move toward retirement, they can smoothly transit into the Hong Kong Athletes Career and Education Programme provided by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC). 

Taken together these initiatives constitute an innovative support system which is not only drawing the attention of our international counterparts but is having a very clear impact on Hong Kong’s elite athlete’s results.   Since the establishment of these schemes, the overall number of eligible athletes has increased by 15%.  The population of eligible athletes at the top end has increased by 30%.  Additionally, and importantly from the elite training perspective, the number of athletes training full time has increased by a massive 50%. This has a direct correlation with improving results.  For example all of the medals won at the 11th National Games, and 80% of the medals won by athletes supported by the HKSI training system, at the 5th East Asian Games, came from full time athletes. Providing an environment conducive to full time training is a crucial element of Hong Kong’s future sustainable sporting success. 

Hong Kong has a relatively small population, and improving prospects for Olympic results requires a very strategic approach to maximise the benefit-ratio for investment in medals. The Government’s allocation of an annual HK$5.6 million to the four priority target sports of badminton, cycling, table tennis and windsurfing, will assist them to run an effective Olympic campaign and better position the athletes to make that final push for the podium in the upcoming Olympic Games.  This is an excellent example of strategic funding linked to clearly accountable outcomes with an emphasis on funding those activities which add value - high performance coaching, scientific and medical support and access to high level training and competition.

Within the current positive elite sport policy environment Hong Kong is well on its way to developing a vibrant culture of elite sport.  The HKSI is very encouraged by this and reaffirms its commitment to working in partnership with the Government, the National Sports Associations and the SF&OC, to play its part in the pursuit of sporting excellence on the world stage.”