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Hang Seng Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (Scheme) again extends its support to local Major Games medallists following the 16th Guangzhou Asian Games held last month, with another encouraging cash awards of HK$590,000, to the medal winners at the Asian Para Games (APG) in Guangzhou.

Hong Kong sent a delegation of 107 athletes to compete in 14 sports at the 2010 APG. After seven days of intense competition, Hong Kong’s elite athletes with disabilities again proved their sporting mettle with a total of 28 medals, comprising 5 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze.

To recognise the athletes’ achievements at the APG, the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and Hang Seng Bank once again joined hands to present HK$590,000 cash incentive to 25 medallists through the Scheme. Together with the cash incentives for the Asian Games, the latest payout will boost the total amount given to outstanding athletes under the Scheme to over HK$26.6 million since 1996.

The presentation ceremony for the APG will be held in mid-January 2011 at the Penthouse of Hang Seng Bank. The wheelchair fencing team harvested 3 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze medals, topping all other participating sports in the Hong Kong medal tally for the highest incentives of HK$350,000 in total.  Among all medallists, three wheelchair fencers, Yu Chui-yee, Chan Yui-chong and Hui Charn-hung, shared the limelight by getting 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze respectively, they will each receive the highest individual cash incentive of HK$60,000.

Mrs Margaret Leung, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, said: "I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to all the Hong Kong athletes with disabilities. Your extraordinary perseverance in, passion and commitment to sport have again brought glory and pride to the city. ‘We Cheer, We Share, We Win’ is the slogan of this year's Guangzhou 2010 Asian Para Games.  It demonstrates the unfailing and positive spirit of all our athletes. Despite the many obstacles you have to overcome, your outstanding achievement in the Games is the best recognition of your tremendous hard work and dedication.”

Dr Eric Li, Chairman of the HKSI, highly commended the outstanding performance of the Hong Kong athletes at the APG. “Building on their success at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Hong Kong’s athletes with disabilities once again excelled at the Major Games, which has reaffirmed their unwavering determination to exceed their own capabilities and overcome adversity,” he said.

“Their dedication to pursuing their dreams and their passion for life have touched the hearts of millions in Hong Kong. Just as encouraging is that the cash incentives offered to APG medallists will be more than double those offered at the previous Far East  & South Pacific Games for the Disabled, which shows that athletes’ hard work and dedication were being recognised by the community. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Hang Seng Bank for its increasing support of the Scheme over the year.”

Organised by the HKSI since 1994, the Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme provides cash awards to medal winners at Major Games. Hang Seng Bank began sponsoring 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 Asian Games and the APG to further support the development of local sports.

2010 Asian Para Games Athlete Incentive Table (PDF)