Jockey Club supports Hong Kong Masters 2022 to promote sports development

07/10/2022 20:35

Exclusively sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Masters 2022 gathers top snooker players from around the world and is the largest tournament in its series. The event provides an opportunity for the public to see international snooker superstars and elite Hong Kong players in action while promoting the sport of snooker. The Hong Kong Masters 2022 is being staged at the Hong Kong Coliseum from 6 to 9 October and is one of many initiatives supported by the Club’s approved donation of HK$630 million to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.

The opening ceremony was held today (7 October). Officiating guests included HKSAR Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung, the Club’s Executive Director of Charities and Community Dr Gabriel Leung, and Chairman of the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council Vincent Law.

The Club’s Executive Director of Charities and Community Dr Gabriel Leung said that sports are important not only for health but also for fostering positive attitudes and building social cohesion. The Club has always been a staunch supporter of sports development and is delighted to be the exclusive sponsor of the Hong Kong Masters 2022. The Club hopes that the tournament will encourage more people to enjoy sport and develop healthy habits. 

The Hong Kong Masters is exclusively sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and organised by the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council. It is also sanctioned by the World Snooker Tour and supported by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The four-day event consists of the Main Tournament and Exhibition Game. A total of eight top international players and elite Hong Kong players are taking part in the Main Tournament, including seven-time world champion and world No. 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan, world No. 2 Judd Trump, Hong Kong’s top player Marco Fu, and Hong Kong’s snooker queen Ng On-yee. Meanwhile, the Exhibition Game will be a competition between legendary foreign players and home-grown young elite athletes. For more information about the tournament, please visit http://www.snookermasters.hk/.

The Club is a long-standing supporter of sports development in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, the Club has promoted sport at both the community and elite levels through numerous initiatives. Through making sport fun and enjoyable and lowering entry barriers, the Club seeks to encourage people of all ages and abilities to participate. This year, the Club is celebrating its decade-long partnership with Manchester United as together with community partners they promote youth development through football at elite, school and community levels. In the area of elite sports development, the Club’s donations support various sports training facilities and programmes. The Club has also provided HK$150 million in funding to match the HKSAR Government's grant to establish the “Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme”. The scheme aims to support initiatives such as upgrading of sports-tech equipment and installations, as well as advancements in sports medicine, all of which will help Hong Kong athletes better prepare for future international competitions.

Over the past 25 years, the Club has progressed with the community. As a world-leader in the sport of horse racing and one of the ten largest charitable donors in the world, the Club has increased its contributions to the community via its integrated business model. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is resolute in pursuing its purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of our society. Then, now, always, we are together with Hong Kong.

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 2021/22, the Club returned a total of HK$33.6 billion to the community. This included HK$27.0 billion to the Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$6.6 billion in approved charity donations.  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.