Jockey Club links sports with community services

02/27/2016

When young people participate in team sports, it not only cultivates their spirit of co-operation, but also helps build their connection with the community. As a means of encouraging the city’s youth to play sports more regularly, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has made a donation of some HK$40 million to implement a three-year HKFYG Jockey Club Community Team Sports programme. This citywide programme will cover five selected team sports, namely team running, basketball, ice hockey, canoeing and rope-skipping, as well as crossover activities blending sports with community services to make them even more fun and meaningful.

Today (27 February), Club Steward Dr Eric Li Ka Cheung joined HKSAR Financial Secretary John Tsang and Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Executive Director Dr Rosanna Wong as officiating guests at the opening ceremony of the programme.  

Dr Li explained that sports can help Hong Kong people lead healthier lives and develop lifelong positive attitudes and values. In particular sports can help young people develop emotional resilience and physical health. “Through developing the concept of ‘Sports and Innovation’ to promote sports for all over the next few years, we would like to use innovation in sports to motivate individuals at all levels to take part, ranging from children to young people, adults, the disabled and elderly,” he said. “By injecting various new elements, our intention is to arouse interest in taking up physical activities, so as to make exercise become a regular habit.”

The HKFYG Jockey Club Community Team Sports programme is aimed at providing a new team sports experience for young people aged 8-25 with different abilities and interests, which is expected to attract some 5,000 participants. The programme also encourages young people to form teams and come up with innovative community sports projects that will benefit a further 50,000 people in all districts in Hong Kong. Its key elements are:

1. HKFYG Jockey Club Community Team Sports Academy and League. This is designed for young people with a moderate interest in sports but who may not have the opportunity or motivation to participate frequently. In addition to receiving basic and leadership training in five selected sports, they will be able to take part in overseas exchange tours and competitions.  
   
   
2. HKFYG Jockey Club Sportovation Community Service. Those participants who would like to go beyond sports training and play a greater role in the community can become community youth volunteers. Working in teams, they will be encouraged to submit innovative proposals on how best to contribute to the community. In total, 500 such projects will be implemented annually, each project receiving up to HK$10,000 in funding support.
3. “Sports Mileage” Mobile App. Participants can use a special sports app to track their sports activity and convert it into “miles” that can be contributed to sports lessons for under-privileged young people. 

For details, please visit: http://tw.hkfyg.org.hk/page.aspx?corpname=tw&i=10318.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2014/15, its donations reached a record HK$3.87 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,300 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$20.05 billion in 2014/15. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,000 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.