The Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme recognises sports stars who earn glory for Hong Kong by winning medals in six major competitions, including the Asian Games. Today (28 September), Club Steward Silas S S Yang joined HKSAR Financial Secretary the Hon Paul Chan; Secretary for Home Affairs the Hon Lau Kong-wah; Vice-President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Dr Brian Stevenson; Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) Dr Lam Tai-fai and other guests to congratulate the city’s medallists at the 2018 Asian Games on their outstanding performances.

Mr Yang noted that the Club had long been supporting various local sporting initiatives and sport was one of the strategic focus areas for its community donations. “Through making sports fun and accessible to all citizens, the Club aims to encourage different segments of the community to take part in sports and build a healthy lifestyle,” he said. “The Club’s Charities Trust is one of the world's top ten charity donors, and will continue to promote long-term development of sports by supporting different sporting initiatives, encouraging creativity and collaboration.”

In 2016, the Club donated more than HK$18 million to the HKSI to support the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme for three years. Cash awards are provided to those winning medals at six major games, namely the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games, National Games and World University Games.

At the 2018 Asian Games, Hong Kong won a record-breaking 46 medals. The first to strike gold was Jacqueline Siu, a member of the HKJC Equestrian Team, who won the individual dressage competition riding Jockey Club Fuerst on Tour, a horse sourced by the Club from Germany. It is Hong Kong’s first-ever equestrian gold medal at the Asian Games. Three other gold medallists, namely cyclist Sarah Lee, gymnast Shek Wai-hung and squash player Leo Au shared their feelings at the presentation ceremony.

The Club has donated more than HK$710 million to support the hardware and software development of the HKSI over the past four decades and to help Hong Kong’s elite athletes perform on the world stage. This includes the establishment of the HKSI (then called the Jubilee Sports Centre) in 1982, which involved the reclamation of land; the construction of buildings and training tracks; and the setting-up of an endowment fund. In 2013, the Club also supported the redevelopment of the former athletes’ hostel into the Jockey Club Sports Building.

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 charity and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2017/18, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$22.6 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.2 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.2 billion. 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. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong.