The past, present and future of sports and the Olympics in Hong Kong

2. Government support to elite sport

In 2012, the government established the Elite Athletes Development Fund (EADF) to provide financial support to the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), which was set up to train and support elite athletes.

According to the HKSI's latest annual report, it received total funding of HK$664.5 million for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Some HK$112.1 million of this was direct financial assistance for elite athletes, with the remainder allocated to train these competitors and for operational expenditure. It will allocate HK$737 million to the institute through the EADF in 2021-22.

Following the good results at the Olympics, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced in August five new measures to promote the sustainable development of sports in the city. The moves include the proposed allocation of HK$990 million to expedite the HKSI's new building project; the joint establishment of a HK$300 million fund with the Jockey Club Charities Trust to enhance the competitiveness of athletes at international events in the coming few years; and the promotion of sports as a career, a profession and an industry.