Jockey Club cheers on Hong Kong, China athletes participating in the Hangzhou Asian Para Games

The Hong Kong Jockey Club gave its full support to elite athletes on 16 September at the flag presentation ceremony for the Hong Kong, China delegation to the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Para Games. Club Steward Lester G Huang attended the ceremony as the representative of the Club.

Medallists at the Games will be rewarded under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (“JCAIAS”), a three-year sponsorship programme organised in collaboration with the Hong Kong Sports Institute (“HKSI”) and aimed at recognising athletes who achieve outstanding results in major sporting events.

The JCAIAS supports the all-round development of local athletes by providing cash incentives to those who earn distinction for Hong Kong by winning gold, silver or bronze medals. The scheme covers seven major sporting events: the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games, National Games, National Para Games and FISU World University Games. Cash rewards will also be awarded to athletes finishing in fourth to eighth places in the Olympics and Paralympics.

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.

Funded jointly by the Club and the Government, the HKSI (then called the Jubilee Sports Centre) opened in 1982. In 1992, the Club’s Charities Trust provided an endowment of HK$200 million to establish a trust fund, now called the Hong Kong Jockey Club Elite Athletes Fund. In 2021, to boost research and development in elite sports for a period of three years, the Club pledged HK$150 million in funding to match the HKSAR Government’s HK$150 million grant.

Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme: Details of Cash Incentives

Asian Para Games (22 to 28 October 2023)

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2022/23, the Club returned a total of HK$35.9 billion to the community. This included HK$28.6 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$7.3 billion in approved charity donations.  The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world’s top ten charity donors.