Cash incentives for athletes who perform well at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be increased 20 percent, enabling individual gold medalists to receive up to HK$6 million ($768,000) in prize money.
Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki made the announcement on Tuesday while speaking at the flag-presentation ceremony for local athletes participating in the Paris Olympics Games.
Athletes who achieve a top-three placement in individual events at the Paris Games will be eligible for cash prize ranging from HK$1.5 million to HK$6 million. Teams that secure a top-three position will receive rewards of HK$3 million to HK$12 million
Chan expressed his expectations for local athletes to achieve good results on the international stage.
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At the Paris Olympics, which will be from July 26 to Aug 11, over 30 athletes from Hong Kong will participate in 13 sports events.
The events are athletics, badminton, swimming, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, judo, rowing, sailing, windsurfing, table tennis, taekwondo and the triathlon.
It will be the inaugural Olympics experience for about half of the athletes, and it is the first time that a Hong Kong athlete has qualified for taekwondo.
In 2023, the Hong Kong Sports Institute and the Hong Kong Jockey Club launched a three-year incentive program to encourage athletes to achieve outstanding performances.
Athletes who achieve a top-three placement in individual events at the Paris Games will be eligible for cash prize ranging from HK$1.5 million to HK$6 million. Teams that secure a top-three position will receive rewards of HK$3 million to HK$12 million.
Because of the summertime heat in Paris, Chan said, the Hong Kong government will transport mobile air conditioners to help Hong Kong athletes rest and prepare better.
Also on Tuesday, MTR Corp announced it will provide one year of free tickets to all Hong Kong athletes participating in the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. In addition, 200 Airport Express tickets will be given to athletes competing in the Paris Olympics.
Hong Kong athletes have achieved remarkable achievements in recent major sports events. They clinched eight gold medals, 16 silver medals and 29 bronze medals at the 19th Asian Games, which took place in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in 2023
During the Games, key events will be broadcasted at nine MTR shopping centers.
To enable the public to have more chances to cheer for the athletes, an Olympic-themed installation has been set up at Tamar Park in Admiralty and put into use on Tuesday. The public can take photos with it until Aug 11.
Featuring the Olympic Rings, the Bauhinia emblem of the HKSAR, and mascot of the Paris Olympics, it is the only installation with an Olympics theme that was recognized by the Hong Kong government.
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The HKSAR government has bought the broadcast rights to the Paris Olympics. The public will be able to watch Olympics and Paralympics events for free through TVB, ViuTV, HOY TV and Radio Television Hong Kong.
Hong Kong athletes have achieved remarkable achievements in recent major sports events. They clinched eight gold medals, 16 silver medals and 29 bronze medals at the 19th Asian Games, which took place in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, in 2023.
At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the Hong Kong team won six medals, including the gold medal in the men’s individual foil event.
Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com
