In its long-standing commitment to local sports development, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is pleased to announce its Charities Trust will provide HK$150 million in funding to match the Hong Kong SAR Government's HK$150 million grant to boost research and development in elite sports in the coming three years.

The Booster Fund, totaling HK$300 million, will support areas including the upgrading of sport-tech equipment and installation, advancements in sports medicine and helping to prepare Hong Kong's athletes for the 2022 Asian and Asian Para Games, the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and other single-sport international events during the period.

Hong Kong's 46-strong Olympic delegation and their training teams achieved historic results in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, securing a record six medals – one gold, two silvers and three bronzes.  Other athletes recorded personal best achievements during the competitions.

"We sincerely thank the Government for offering the Club this opportunity to once again show our support for sports development in Hong Kong. It is our pleasure to contribute to this appreciable initiative. The remarkable achievements of our athletes and their training teams at the Olympic Games once again show to the whole world Hong Kong's can-do spirit and our commitment to excellence. It is also the opportune time for us to act together to support them in preparation for other upcoming competitions and shine again on the world stage," Club Chairman Philip Chen said. 

"The Club has always been a staunch supporter of sports promotion in Hong Kong. We're mindful that in order to reach the top, it's important to approach the goal step by step in a progressive way. That's why the Club has been promoting sports development in an all-rounded and comprehensive manner at all levels, in schools and among other age groups," Mr. Chen said.

The Club has a long tradition of supporting sports development in Hong Kong at both community and elite levels through numerous initiatives over the decades. It is the Club's belief that sports are important not only for health but also for fostering positive attitudes and values and building social cohesion, as was clearly demonstrated during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Under its "Sports for All" charities strategy in the past seven years, the Club sought to promote active participation in sports by lowering the entry barriers and making sports fun and rewarding for people at different life stages and of different abilities. These include programmes that utilise fitness-tracking devices to encourage school students and their families to become more physically active while boosting their enthusiasm for sports; and initiatives that leverage sports to promote volunteerism and social inclusion.

In the area of elite sports development, the Club has offered funding support for training facilities and programmes for athletes to compete in national and international competitions. One of the key initiatives was the establishment of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (then called the Jubilee Sports Centre). Funded jointly by the Club and the Government, on reclaimed land the Club financed, the Institute opened in 1982 and has since been providing world-class training and support to home-grown athletes and coaches.  Throughout the years, the Club has continued to support the Institute and athletes, with over HK$730 million in Charities Trust funding to cover a range of projects from building sporting infrastructure to coach development and post-athletic career development programmes.

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, to support top athletes' training, education and career development. The Club also supported the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics equestrian events in Hong Kong, and was officially recognised as an "Outstanding Contributor".

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 Government in combatting illegal gambling.  In 2019/20, the Club contributed HK$19.9 billion in duty and profits tax and HK$0.8 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.5 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.