Supporting Athletes

Inaugurated in 2015, the Partnership School Programme (PSP) with the English Schools Foundation and Lam Tai Fai College provides a tailor-made curriculum to meet young athletes’ training and education needs, enabling them to train full-time while studying at senior secondary level. A class of 25 athletes graduated in the 2019/20 academic year, and among them, 18 were enrolled in tertiary institutions. In addition to this, 14 athletes successfully joined the PSP for the 2020/21 academic year. As at 31 March 2021, a total of 57 athletes were studying under the programme.

In 2020/21, the HKSI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration of The Open University of Hong Kong in November 2020 to formalise cooperation on developing dual career pathways for elite athletes. As of 31 March 2021, the HKSI signed MOUs with all eight University-Grants-Committee-funded universities and four self-financed tertiary institutions. A total of 28 full-time athletes were admitted to higher diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate programmes in the 2020/21 academic year under the MOUs.

The HKSI collaborated with tertiary institutions to support athletes in pursuing academic and sporting excellence concurrently.

The HKSI also provides general education and career planning services to athletes, such as tutorial support, continuing education subsidies, and scholarships for athletes who are enrolled in the PSP. As at 31 March 2021, 380 athletes received educational support.

The Government’s injection of HK$250 million into the Hong Kong Athletes Fund (HKAF) to strengthen support for athletes’ dual career development has enabled the education grant under the HKAF to be greatly enhanced. These enhancements include relaxing the eligibility threshold, expanding the scope of eligible study programmes, increasing the number of funded programmes and raising the grant ceiling. A new sports certificate grant has also been introduced to support interested athletes in pursuing sports-related certificates. Athletes may apply for grants to cover tuition fees as well as subsistence allowances. In 2020/21, HK$8.97 million of funding was approved to cover the tuition fees of 67 athletes up to the 2025/26 academic year. The recipients were:

In addition to educational support, the HKSI also helps elite athletes prepare for their career transition through the Elite Athletes Apprenticeship Programme. With enhanced support introduced in 2020/21, the programme not only enables elite athletes who plan to retire within two years to develop coaching skills and gain practical coaching experience, but also enriches their experience in administration, diversifying their post-athletic career options. The programme has benefited 31 athletes since its launch in 2008, and has been sponsored by the Western Harbour Tunnel Company since 2013.

The Elite Athletes Performance Recognition Scheme, set up in 2015 under the HKAF, has been enhanced with a significant increase in grant levels to recognise athletes’ achievements and provide greater retirement support, enabling them to pursue a second career after retiring from high-level sporting competitions. The scheme has benefited 47 athletes to date.