The brilliant performance of Hong Kong competitors in Paris has had a positive impact on the city, a survey has found, while experts urged the special administration region’s government to use the Olympic fervor as an opportunity to step up support for local athletes.

The survey, conducted by the Hong Kong Research Association, polled 1,014 residents aged 18 and above, found that 80 percent of respondents were satisfied with the achievements of Hong Kong competitors at the Paris Olympics. The city won a record four medals — golds for fencers Edgar Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai, while swimmer Siobhan Haughey claimed two bronze medals.

About 78 percent of respondents say they believe the Hong Kong, China team’s accomplishments have helped to enhance social cohesion within the city.

The results show that Hong Kong competitors have won the recognition and appreciation of the majority of the public and have promoted social unity, the association said.

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Moreover, 84 percent of surveyed people voiced their support for the government to allocate more resources to nurturing and elevating the competitive abilities of Hong Kong’s athletes.

However, the decision to encourage children to pursue a full-time sports career remains a complex one for many parents. Two-thirds of respondents indicated they would support their children to realize their sporting dreams. However, they cited inadequate support from the government, lack of financial stability, little uncertainty of success, and educational priorities as key factors deterring children from pursuing careers in professional sports.

The association emphasized the need for the government and society to capitalize on the Olympic fervor to cultivate a stronger sports culture and encourage healthier living habits among residents.

Hong Kong competitors’ success in Paris will undoubtedly shape the future for the city’s sports development, and Hong Kong’s pursuit of excellence on the global stage looks set to continue with the public’s resounding support and a renewed commitment to nurturing sporting talent, the association envisaged.

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Lobo Louie Hung-tak, a senior lecturer of the Department of Health and Physical Education at the Education University of Hong Kong, said the most significant challenge in sports development in Hong Kong lies in the severe lack of facilities.

Louie said he hopes the government will allocate more resources to elite sports, such as developing sports medicine to help competitors return to top-level competitions successfully after injuries.

Louie said he believes that providing more support to elite competitors can drive the development of mass sports events too, encouraging more young people to participate in sports and promoting fitness.

Jerry Yung Long-chin, a former Hong Kong table tennis player who manages a sports-training company, highlighted the significance of arranging pathways for full-time athletes after they have retired from competitive sports.

Yung said that many children with sporting talent tend not to pursue full-time careers in sport after secondary school or university because they do not envisage a promising future. He suggests the government provide more post-retirement positions for full-time athletes to ensure a smoother transition to future endeavors.

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The development of “second careers” for full-time athletes should also be highlighted by the government, said Jim Luk Tze-chung, associate professor of the Department of Sports and Recreation at the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong.

For instance, he said that collaborating with relevant institutions and universities in Hong Kong could allow full-time athletes to apply for undergraduate bachelor’s degrees, graduate programs or advanced diploma courses, providing scholarships and more flexible learning arrangements that empower athletes to pursue further education alongside their sporting careers.

Luk also emphasized the need for Hong Kong to host more large-scale sports events, which can attract international tourists and also elevate Hong Kong to the status of an international sports city.