PARIS OLYMPICS: HK$10 MILLION PER GOLD? HONG KONG LAWMAKER WANTS TAXPAYER TO MATCH PRIZES, CITY REVEALS NO FIXED MEDAL TARGET

Legislator Michael Luk says Hong Kong government should be more 'proactive' and match prizes from companies and Jockey Club
Hong Kong athletes must 'strive for their best performances' in Paris but government opts against stating yardstick for success

Hong Kong athletes who win gold at the Paris Olympics should have their financial rewards matched by the taxpayer, a lawmaker has suggested, in a week when the government declined to state a medal target for the Games.

If implemented, the move could potentially net athletes HK$10 million (US$1.275 million) or more, given that fencer Cheung Ka-long was awarded HK$5 million by Hong Kong Jockey Club when he won gold in Tokyo in 2021.

Legislator Michael Luk Chung-hung said the Hong Kong government needed to be more "proactive" in offering incentives.

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Luk wants the government to establish a system in which it works together with private firms and sports bodies such as Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and the city's Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (SF&OC).

"My suggestion is for a well-organised sponsorship programme ... to encourage our athletes to win a medal at the Olympic Games," Luk said. "I think at least HK$1 million for a bronze medal and HK$5 million for gold is reasonable.

"This kind of encouragement should be organised before the Games, not like before where I think it has been quite casual.

"Maybe we can set up a match-up fund from the company and the government as well as the Jockey Club ... so our society and our government pay more recognition."

Last year, the Jockey Club gave athletes who struck gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou HK$1 million, up 25 per cent from the 2018 Games. It awarded HK$500,000 for silver and HK$250,000 for bronze, while teams received twice those amounts, shared between them.

Hong Kong won eight gold, 16 silver and 29 bronze medals at last year's Asiad, after a 2021 Tokyo Olympics at which the city won one gold, two silvers and three bronzes, along with two silvers and three bronzes at the Paralympics.

On Tuesday, during a panel in Hong Kong's legislature, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau stopped short of setting a specific target for the Paris Games in July and August, saying the publicly funded HKSI "would like to suitably manage public expectation on the results".

"Ensuring consistent medal performance in each [Olympics and Paralympics] is one of the primary goals of the HKSI," it said.

"Taking into account various factors including our track record in previous [editions], athletes' potential and their preparation status, the HKSI and [the Paralympic Committee] have formulated preparation plans and targets for Hong Kong athletes to strive for their best performances."

Luk agreed with the decision not to state publicly any medal target.

"It's very competitive, of course," he said. "It is very difficult to set a certain target. But we believe in our athletes, and they will do their best."

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The government said it allocated HK$863 million to the HKSI from its Elite Athletes Development Fund for the 2023-24 financial year. The HKSI has 20 Tier A and 13 Tier B sports, as well as six Tier A and three Tier B disability sports.

The Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Award Scheme for the Paris Olympics and Paralympics is expected to be announced by HKSI by next month, while the SF&OC also rewards athletes financially.

"Only the Jockey Club is not enough; private enterprises should contribute and encourage athletes to win a medal, and our government should be the organiser," Luk said.

"The government spent a lot of money on the sports institute, but the financial incentive is important for a full-time athlete."

Swimmers Siobhan Haughey, Cindy Cheung Sum-yuet and Ian Ho Yentou, and sailor Nicholas Halliday are among the Hongkongers to have qualified for Paris. They were joined on Thursday by table tennis mixed doubles duo Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem.

As of March 26, none of Hong Kong's para athletes in boccia, equestrian and swimming had qualified.