Four Jockey Club-funded Sichuan reconstruction projects open, setting new standards for the whole nation

04/23/2012

The massive Sichuan earthquake in 2008 turned many of the province's schools, homes and sports training facilities into rubble.  In keeping with its mission of serving as a Force for Good, The Hong Kong Jockey Club made an immediate donation of HK$30 million to support emergency relief work there, and later pledged an unprecedented further HK$1 billion towards post-earthquake reconstruction projects.  The seven projects subsequently chosen are focused on restoring and upgrading education and medical services in the quake-stricken areas, while helping the nation prepare better for future natural disasters by driving research into disaster management and reconstruction.

Today (23 April) Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club T Brian Stevenson joined officials of Sichuan Province and the General Administration of Sport of China to witness the official opening of the Sichuan HKJC Olympic School, one of the Club-funded projects, in the company of more than 1,200 students and Olympic gold medallists.  The school's opening not only marks an important milestone in the Club’s charitable undertakings in Sichuan, but also establishes a new educational model combining academic and sports training with the aim of creating a new generation of elite athletes.

Mr Stevenson told the guests that during this visit to Sichuan, he had been deeply impressed by the speed and scale of reconstruction achieved in the quake-stricken areas, and the immense difficulties that Sichuan people had faced and overcome. “It is an unprecedented and amazing feat made possible by your courageous efforts with the support and encouragement of the whole nation,” he observed.

“The Club is most pleased to have been able to make its own contributions towards Sichuan reconstruction, donating HK$1 billion. It is the first time in the Club’s history that we have made such a significant donation outside Hong Kong.”

Noting that devastating earthquake had serious repercussions on the training of athletes in Sichuan – a sports powerhouse in the nation – the Club decided to finance the construction of a Sichuan HKJC Olympic School as a means of propelling sports training and education into a new era.

“Among the reconstruction projects we’ve funded, the Olympic School is most symbolic of the legacy created as the sports community was badly hit by the quake.  It is innovative,” Mr Stevenson said.  “Here, elite athletes can combine academic education with sports training.  This will not only help to create a new, more competitive generation of athletes, it will also give these athletes wider professional choices in their future careers.  This innovative model of combining academic and sports training will also allow some of the best secondary students in Sichuan to enjoy sport and build their character through rigorous training.  In time, we believe that what has been created will become a cradle of excellence and make a boost to the nation’s and Sichuan’s already impressive Olympic legacy.”

Mr Stevenson emphasised that sport had been the heart and soul of the Club for more than a hundred years.  It had developed into one of the top racing organisations in the world and its International Races drew many of the world’s leading racehorses to Hong Kong each year.  On top of this, the Club had contributed more than HK$4 billion to the development of other local sports over the years, supporting projects such the Hong Kong Sports Institute, the new Hong Kong Stadium, Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course, and public riding school and swimming pools.

The Club was the biggest sponsor of the 5th East Asian Games hosted by Hong Kong in 2009, as well as the 2011 Hong Kong Games.  In addition, it has established the HKJC Equestrian Team and Junior Equestrian Team to nurture Hong Kong talent in equestrian sport.  These contributions all reflect the Club’s commitment to promoting sport and a healthy lifestyle in the community, especially among young people.

In recent years the Club has been equally dedicated to promoting sports development on the Mainland.  “Compelled by this commitment, we helped stage world-class equestrian events for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics in Hong Kong,” Mr Stevenson observed.  “More recently, the Club helped design and build equestrian venues for the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, as well as providing professional support services.”

Mr Stevenson was joined at today's opening ceremony by Club Stewards Anthony Chow and Dr Donald Li; Vice Governor of Sichuan Province Liu Jie; Vice Sports Minister Cai Zhenhua; former Vice Sports Minister Wang Jun; Director of the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau Zhu Ling; Director of the Dujiangyan Sports Bureau and Principal of the Olympic School Chen Xiao; and the Club's Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Executive Director of Corporate Affairs Kim Mak.

The RMB135 million rebuilding and expansion project for the Sichuan HKJC Olympic School comprises an integrated sports training facility, an integrated academic building, students and staff dormitories, a canteen and other facilities.  Serving an estimated 4,500 students, the school will endeavour to set a new model of elite education, benefiting not only Sichuan students but also aspiring athletes from all over the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau through exchange programmes. 

Mr Liu, who as Sichuan Vice Governor has been responsible for overseeing the reconstruction projects, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Club for its generous support. “We will continue to pass on the legacy of the ‘never quit’ spirit of Sichuan people and live up to the Olympic spirit,” he said.  “Based on latest management models, we will endeavour to develop quality general education and sports training while nurturing students’ positive values, so as to serve as a cradle for elite athletes not only for Sichuan but also for the nation.”

Vice Sports Minister Mr Cai said the Ministry attached great importance to sport-related reconstruction projects backed by Hong Kong.  He believed the Olympic School epitomised the support of all in the community and this new education model combining academic education and sports training would mark a milestone in the development of scientific sports training in the nation. “This model provides a platform for closer collaboration between Sichuan and Hong Kong in the area of sports training and cultural exchanges, paving the way for holistic growth in Sichuan’s sports industry,” he said.

Director of the Provincial Sports Bureau Ms Zhu noted that dedicated Club staff had travelled to Sichuan to review the progress and project management with the school and contractor, ensuring the quality of the project.  She believed the opening of the Olympic School would provide a venue for implementing an innovative academic-sporting education model.  

Later in the day Mr Stevenson and his fellow Club Stewards and management also officiated at a ceremony to mark the inauguration of new Club-sponsored equipment at the Sichuan Provincial 8-1 Rehabilitation Centre.  The Club's donation of RMB53 million has enabled the Centre to purchase state-of-the-art equipment as well as provide critical professional training to its staff, all aimed at upgrading the standard of rehabilitation services received by the patients.

Joining the Club delegation were Vice Chairperson of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation and President of the China Foundation for Disabled Persons, Tang Xiaoquan; and Standing Committee Member of CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Chairman of Sichuan Province Federation of Trade Unions Li Dengju.

Mr Stevenson said he found great comfort in seeing patients receive timely care and quality rehabilitation services at the Centre.  "We hope our funding of advanced facilities and equipment, as well as much-needed professional training, will help the centre’s staff provide patients with the best treatment available, benefiting hundreds of thousands of victims and ultimately becoming a model rehabilitation facility for the whole nation," he remarked.

Ms Tang said the Club’s donation had given a boost to the Rehabilitation Centre’s hardware and software development.  “The Club’s support provides timely assistance to the sustainable development of the Rehabilitation Centre,” she remarked.

Further special ceremonies will be held tomorrow (24 April) to celebrate the official opening of two more Club-supported projects, the Mianyang 3rd City Hospital HKJC Medical Complex and the Mianyang Youxian Zhongxing HKJC Junior Middle School.

At the Mianyang 3rd City Hospital, the Club’s funding of RMB80 million has helped the hospital continue its service to the 5.3 million residents of Mianyang and those in neighbouring areas through the reconstruction of a crisis prevention complex, the refurbishment of dormitory facilities and the purchase of medical facilities.  Thanks to stringent control of costs while maintaining project quality, extra floor space has been added to the complex and the scale of the hospital's operation has also been expanded.  The whole project is expected to be complete by late May 2012.

The Club-funded Mianyang Youxian Zhongxing HKJC Junior Middle School started student enrolment in the academic year starting September 2010.  Following the reconstruction of its academic buildings, the provision of a sports ground and the purchase of facilities and books made possible by a Club donation of RMB37 million, the rebuilt school now provides a welcoming environment conducive to the learning of more than 700 students.  Barrier-free facilities have also been added to assist disabled young people to enrol there.

Apart from making financial contributions, the Club has broken new ground in its close collaboration with provincial authorities to ensure smooth progress of the seven reconstruction projects.  Assisted by a cross-divisional team of Club employees specialising in the legal, auditing, financing, property and Mainland affairs fields, the Club has been able to monitor progress closely through risk assessment and control, as well as prudent fund management.

Club engineers stationed in Sichuan have been providing professional and independent advice to ensure the quality of both hardware construction and software projects.  As a result, three of the Club-supported projects – Mianyang 3rd City Hospital HKJC Medical Complex, Mianyang Youxian Zhongxing HKJC Junior Middle School and Deyang HKJC No. 5 Middle School – have been honoured with “Outstanding Quality Construction” awards by the Sichuan Provincial Government, in recognition of the new standard they set for the nation in project management.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.6 billion in 2011. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$15 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.

Attachment: Factsheet on HKJC’s post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Sichuan