Club supports Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games to live up to its slogan "Be the Legend"

16 April 2009

Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club John C C Chan announced today (16 April) that the Club, through its Charities Trust, would donate HK$40 million to support the 2009 East Asian Games to be held in Hong Kong early December this year. The Club's sponsorship covers a volunteer programme, construction of a BMX Park as one of the competition venues and a subsidy scheme for student tickets.

Speaking at today's press conference, Mr Chan commented that the Club was committed to sports development over the years. Following the successful completion of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, the Club has continued to support the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games by donating HK$40 million as the Principal Contributor. "Despite the current economic environment, the Club remains committed to its charity donations in the community," he said. "Through our sponsorship to the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games, we hope that people from all over the world will be able to enjoy a world-class sporting event and at the same time, the people of Hong Kong will be proud to host the Games and give their full support for the event.

Chairman of the 5th East Asian Games Planning Committee, Timothy Fok thanked the Club for its support for the Games despite the current economic downturn. "The Hong Kong Jockey Club has continued its unfailing support to the city's sports development after the Olympics," he said, "its support is instrumental in helping strengthen Hong Kong's international standing through the organisation of large-scale international sporting events."

The Club's donation of HK$40 million encompasses the recruitment, training and support for the volunteer programme which has been named "The Hong Kong Jockey Club 2009 East Asian Games Volunteer Programme"; the construction of the BMX Park on Gin Drinkers Bay Landfill in Kwai Chung as the Games' BMX competition venue; and a subsidy scheme for student tickets.

The Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games will be held in Hong Kong from 5 to 13 December 2009. Over 3,000 elite athletes from nine participating places including China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei and Guam will compete for medals of 281 competition events in 23 sports.