Hong Kong Baptist University opened its new Master of Social Sciences in Sports Management program for national elite athletes, supported by China’s Sports Fund Management Centre.

HONG KONG — Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) held on Wednesday the opening ceremony for its new Master of Social Sciences in Sports Management program, the first taught master’s program in Hong Kong specifically designed for national elite athletes.

Jointly organized by HKBU’s Department of Sports and Health Sciences and the Sports Fund Management Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), the program is designed to support athletes as they transition into sports-management careers after retirement.

The program will admit 30 students annually, all nominated and sponsored by the GASC’s Sports Fund Management Centre.

Incoming students have achieved outstanding results at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, World Championships, Asian Championships, or National Games.

The first 30 students include Ren Guixin, former member of the China Women’s National Football Team, and Wang Ziwen, a Chinese wushu athlete.

The curriculum covers sports facility and event management; sports marketing; legal, ethical, economic, and financial aspects of sports; international sports governance; and organizational behavior. Some courses will be taught in English, with a subject-based English-language enhancement course included.

HKBU will also arrange internships and activities with international sports organizations to expand students’ professional networks.

The opening ceremony featured remarks from Alex Wai, HKBU president and vice-chancellor, who said the program reflects HKBU’s commitment to nurturing talent for the global sports industry and enhancing China’s voice in international sports organizations.

Patrick Lau, the program director, said that the completion of the Kai Tak Sports Park and the nation’s target of a 7 trillion yuan ($1 trillion) sports industry by 2030 highlight the need for such talent.

Yang Jie, deputy director of the Sports Fund Management Centre, said that helping retired athletes transition into industry and society is essential for building China into a leading sports nation.

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Former Olympic champions Chen Yibing and Chen Aisen shared their experiences, encouraging students to bring perseverance into the classroom.

Wang Ziwen, as a student representative, said the HKBU offers an international learning environment that will support her future efforts to promote wushu globally.

“As a wushu taolu athlete, I have long aspired to contribute to promoting wushu’s inclusion as an official Olympic sport and to strengthening China’s presence in international sport. HKBU’s Master of Social Sciences in Sports Management offers an international learning environment that will support my future efforts to promote wushu globally and take part in international sports affairs,” she said.