The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) provides comprehensive training and support for elite athletes, which includes direct financial support, sports science and sports medicine support, fitness and conditioning support, as well as dual career and personal development support. There are currently around 1 400 elite athletes at the HKSI, including around 600 full time athletes.
The HKSI provides support to elite athletes in the following main areas:
(a) Direct Financial Grant
(b) Training and Competition Support
(c) Dual Career and Personal Development Support
The Government provides direct financial grant for elite athletes through the HKSI to help them concentrate on their training. Currently, full time elite athletes of the highest level can receive a maximum monthly grant of $50,000. Besides, the HKSI also provides cash awards to medallists at international Major Games through the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme and the Youth Athletes Scholarship Awards to encourage outstanding performances by elite athletes. In addition, outstanding elite athletes may receive the Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards and the Outstanding Junior Athlete Awards in recognition of their exceptional sports achievements;
(b) Training and Competition Support
The HKSI provides athletes with professional coaching, opportunities for local and overseas training and competitions, as well as support in sports science, sports medicine and fitness and conditioning. The HKSI also provides athletes with the latest sports equipment and gears; and
(c) Dual Career and Personal Development Support
The HKSI provides elite athletes with support in education and career development. Athletes will therefore be able to carry on with their studies while they concentrate on their training and competitions. They will be able to well-equip themselves for their second careers upon retirement. The following are some examples of the relevant support:
Partnership School Programme
The HKSI’s Partnership School Programme provides tailor-made curriculum with great flexibility to suit the needs for full-time training of athletes. These schools enable flexible class schedules, extension of study periods, as well as individual academic support for athletes where suitable.
Elite Athlete-friendly School Network
Schools under the HKSI’s Elite Athlete-friendly School Network would provide enhanced education support for student-athletes including extra tutorials, make-up classes, and flexible arrangements on class schedule, and leave applications and examinations.
Tertiary Institutions
Eight University-Grants-Committee-funded Universities, including The Education University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, The University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Lingnan University, City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and four self-financing Tertiary Institutions including Hong Kong Metropolitan University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, CUHK, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong and The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, have been collaborating with the HKSI on tertiary education. These universities enable the HKSI to nominate full-time athletes for admission into their full-time Bachelor’s degree, postgraduate or higher diploma programmes (where appropriate). They would provide scholarships to athletes, flexible study arrangements including extension of study periods, as well as academic, tutorial and school life support.
Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme
The University Grants Committee (UGC) has launched the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme in 2022 to facilitate the direct admission of outstanding Hong Kong athletes to the eight UGC-funded universities.
Hong Kong Athletes Fund
The Hong Kong Athletes Fund provides education grants to athletes for their post-secondary education programmes, such as certificates, diplomas, bachelor's degree programmes, master's and doctor's degree programmes.
Jockey Club Elite Athlete Continuing Education Subsidy
The Jockey Club Elite Athlete Continuing Education Subsidy provides financial support to athletes studying at primary and secondary education programmes, and vocational-related courses, with the aim of enriching athletes’ dual career pathway while fostering vocational training and other personal development skills.
Athlete Education and Personal Development Support Programmes
The HKSI’s Athlete Education and Personal Development Support Programmes provide comprehensive support to athletes and recognises the importance of a whole-person development. These programmes offer a variety of support, including educational, vocational and career development to cater to athletes’ different needs at various stages of their sporting careers and during their transition to post-athletic career development. Some of the programmes offered include educational counselling, academic advising, tutorial support, education subsidies, life skills and vocational training, athletes exchange, coaching apprenticeship programmes, etc.