Published: 20:43, October 13, 2024
Jockey Club stages celebration raceday to honor athletes for Olympic achievements
By Wang Zhan
Eric Chan Kwok-ki (front row, 7th left), chief secretary for administration of the government of the HKSAR; Raistlin Lau   (front row, 9th left), acting secretary for culture, sports and tourism; Michael Lee, chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (front row, 8th left); Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (front row, 6th left); Timothy Fok, president of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (front row, 5th left); and Tang King-shing, chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (front row, 10th left), join club stewards and representatives from the Hong Kong, China delegation at the cheque presentation ceremony for the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme on October 13, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Jockey Club staged the Hong Kong, China’s Paris 2024 Olympic Team Celebration Raceday on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse to celebrate Hong Kong’s most successful Olympic Games. The delegation brought home two gold and two bronze medals from Paris.

The raceday also featured a cheque presentation ceremony for the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (JCAIAS), through which the club granted a total of HK$17.625 million ($2.27 million) in cash incentives to the medalists and athletes who finished in fourth to eighth position at the Olympics.

Guests in attendance included Paris Olympic medalist fencers Edgar Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai, and medal-winning swimmer Siobhan Haughey; other representatives from the Hong Kong, China delegation; government officials; and representatives from the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and national sports associations, who shared the joy of witnessing local athletes’ historic achievements at the Olympic Games.

Officiating at the event, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, chief secretary for administration, congratulated the team on their outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics. He said their success was made possible through the concerted efforts of athletes, coaches and the sports community, as well as staunch support from the society. The HKSAR government will continue to work with all sectors to support sports development, so that local athletes can unleash their potential and achieve outstanding results on the international stage.

He also thanked the Jockey Club for its long-standing support for sports development, including its generous rewards for athletes.

Michael Lee, chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, speaks at cash rewards ceremony given through the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme to athletes on October 13, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Michael Lee, chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the team, saying, “Your exceptional performance on this global stage once again underscored the excellent capabilities of our athletes. Your efforts in the competition not only showcased our city’s indomitable spirit to the world, but also filled all Hong Kong resident with immense pride and honor.”

Lee added that sports had a transformative power in shaping lives and fostering societal unity. The club will remain committed to supporting Hong Kong athletes to shine on the world sports stage through collaboration with different sectors of the community.

Paris Olympic gold medalist Edgar Cheung Ka-long (third from left) receives cash incentives through the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme on October 13, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY) 

Two fencers clinched gold medals, each receiving HK$6 million in cash incentives. Cheung said he was delighted to have successfully achieved this feat. “Winning a gold at the Olympics is the culmination of the efforts of past athletes. I am grateful for the support from all sectors of society, including the government and The Hong Kong Jockey Club, which greatly encourages all athletes,” he said.

Kong, who won the Olympic gold medal in women’s epee fencing for the first time, said that the moment she won is still indescribable. She is grateful for the support of the Hong Kong people and believes the incentive awards scheme is a great encouragement to athletes.

Paris Olympic gold medalist Vivian Kong Man-wai (third from left) receives cash incentives through the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme on October 13, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY) 

Swimmer Siobhan Haughey earned two bronze medals, in the women’s 100m and 200m freestyle events, receiving a total of HK$3 million in cash incentives. Haughey revealed that she was deeply moved by the support from the Hong Kong public in Paris, saying: “It is a great honor to represent Hong Kong. I always strive to do my best, and if my efforts can impact and inspire others, it is my honor.”

The club launched the three-year JCAIAS in 2023, sponsoring the HKSI to provide cash awards to the athletes who win medals in major sports events. These include the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games, World University Games, National Games and National Para Games, and respective winter Games.

Over the years, the club has promoted sports at both the community and elite levels through numerous initiatives, enabling people of all ages and abilities to enjoy sports. The club’s Charities Trust has donated HK$4.65 billion over the past decade to advance sports.

Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (3rd left) and athletes enjoy the Hong Kong, China’s Paris 2024 Olympic Team Celebration Cup race at the Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong October 13, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY).

Funded by the club in partnership with the government, the HKSI was established in 1982 (initially named Jubilee Sports Centre) as a training base for elite local athletes. The Charities Trust provided an endowment of HK$200 million in 1992 to establish a trust fund – now called the Hong Kong Jockey Club Elite Athletes Fund – to support the training, education and career development of top athletes. In 2021, the club pledged HK$150 million in funding to match the HKSAR government’s HK$150 million grant for the Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme.