The
Hong Kong Jockey Club is contributing HK$450 million (US$57.7 million) to the city to support its co-hosting of the 15th National Games in November and two related events, marking the single largest donation for the competitions.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Thursday that the donation from the club and its charities trust would inject “powerful energy” into the city’s preparations for the events, referring to the
National Games , the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games.
“The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s sponsorship will primarily be used for volunteer service programmes, citywide community and school promotion activities and arranging viewing experiences for underprivileged groups and youth,” she said during a signing ceremony to announce the donation with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony included club chairman Michael Lee Tze-hau and Zhang Zhihua, deputy director general of the coordination department for Hong Kong and Macau affairs of the National Games’ organising committee.
“Hosting the 15th National Games and the Paralympic Games is a crucial task for Hong Kong this year. We have been working closely with Guangdong and Macau, leveraging this opportunity to deepen sports exchange and integrated development within the
Greater Bay Area ,” Law said.
Michael Lee emphasised the club’s role as a world-class sports organisation that was committed to Hong Kong and the wider country and highlighted its consistent support for national sporting aspirations and development.
