HKJC Beach Festival helps promote beach sports in the city

10/11/2014

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Beach Festival 2014 got underway today (11 October) with some 1,000 athletes from 20 Asian countries and cities competing in eight beach competitions including handball, football, volleyball, rugby and rowing. Funded by a HK$1.93 million donation from the Jockey Club’s Charities Trust, the Festival also features a series of demonstrations and workshops to arouse public interest in beach sports.

The Club’s Head of Charities Projects Rhoda Chan joined Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Mrs Betty Fung, Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China President Timothy Fok, Hong Kong Jockey Club Beach Festival 2014 Organising Committee Chairman Wilfred Ng, South District Chairman Chu Ching-hong and several medallists  at 2014 Incheon Asian Games including Gold Medallist Lok Kwan-hoi and Silver Medallist Lee Ka-man from Rowing team and members of the Silver Medal winning Rugby team to officiate at the opening ceremony at Repulse Bay.

Speaking earlier, Ms Chan said the Club’s support reflected its long-term strategy to promote local sports development by funding major recreational facilities as well as bringing world-class competitions to Hong Kong. “We hope to arouse public interest in beach activities by promoting sports for all, nurturing elite athletes and organising major sporting events in the city. The club will seek ways to contribute to the community’s long-term sustainability. In the coming three to five years, we will have three overarching themes, strategically focusing on the areas that could help build Hong Kong into an age-friendly city, channel youth energy into social innovation, and support sports projects that could create lifelong positive values and hopes,” she said.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Beach Festival 2014 is co-organised byHong Kong’s Football Association, Handball Association, Canoe Union, Rowing Association, Rugby Football Union, Amateur Swimming Association and Volleyball Association.

The sixteen-day festival features Beach Rugby, Open Water Swimming and Rowing at Repulse Bay, while the Sea Kayak and Surfski competitions will take place off Stanley Beach. A temporary sand court has been built on Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan as a venue for the Beach Football, Beach Handball and Beach Volleyball competitions. 

To enhance public interest in beach activities, the Rugby Football Union is running workshops and demonstrations on rules and basic skills for around 200 under-privileged. And a Rugby competition between local and Cambodian visually impaired players gave disabled students an opportunity to participate in the festival. In addition, a carnival will be held on 26 October in Tsuen Wan. All the competitions and activities will offer free admission to the public. For details, please visit www.handball.org.hk/HKBeachFestival2014.

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 for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. 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 24,800 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.