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Last month, when asked whether increased investment would come with greater responsibility to achieve better results, a HKSI spokesperson initially posted a chunk of the blurb about musculoskeletal assessments verbatim. Sent to paper.
It’s rare to break through the protective cloak around the institute’s Fortan campus, but even rarer to gain access to the poster boys and boys of the city’s public sports grants, who receive up to HK$50,000 a month. earning subsidies.
Countless requests by The Post to speak with star swimmer Siobhan Hoey, including three since the fall when she won her medal, have been either refused or ignored.
But outgoing HKSI chief executive Trisha Leahy was happy to speak, even if it included things that the paying public wouldn’t hear. The institute’s examination of the Asian Games is kept confidential.
Government sets standards, HKSI announces
Leahy described Hong Kong’s Asiad record 53 podiums as “absolutely amazing”, adding: “It’s not just the number of medals, but the fact that we were able to win medals in a wide range of sports where we haven’t had success before.” He added.
More investment is needed to maintain momentum, she argued.
“We need to stay ahead of the curve and our message to government is we need to continue to invest to keep moving forward,” Mr Leahy said. He will be succeeded by Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tony Choi on January 1.
When asked about the funding criteria, she added: “That’s out of our orbit. That’s the government.
“The Elite Sport Commission and the Sports Commission are the policy makers. We have implemented that policy and they review it regularly.”
The criteria for sport to receive HKSI funding have remained largely unchanged since 2005, with the exception of an expansion of the funding tier to three tiers in 2013. The government’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Board (CSTB) told the Post that the system is reviewed after each Olympics.
He declined to discuss whether the standards were still fit for purpose.
Further questions were asked to Hong Kong SI, including whether new standards should be imposed on underperforming sports that continue to be funded, and whether standards should be raised for Hong Kong athletes who have exceeded expectations.
The Institute also received questions about what is happening with gymnastics and track and field, two sports that are failing to produce young athletes who can compete locally, let alone globally.
The newspaper said the medal tally in Hangzhou broadly demonstrated that “our direction and strategy are on track.”
When it comes to performance gains and performance losses, “Governments rely on the Elite Voting Support System (EVSS) to evaluate and select high-performance sports for support. This ensures continued development of high performance.”
Can Hong Kong maintain its Asian Games success?It’s a matter of HK$7 billion
Can Hong Kong maintain its Asian Games success?It’s a matter of HK$7 billion
Hong Kong established the scheme after studying the UK funding model and the Australian Institute of Sport.
Tier A* and Tier A status ensure comprehensive HKSI support including elite training facilities, coaching and sports science. Athletes participating in these programs receive a monthly stipend of HK$44,500 to HK$50,000 and HK$32,720 to HK$38,540, respectively. These will remain unchanged from 2024 to 2025.
Should sports keep their funding?
Triathlon head coach Andrew Wright pointed out when he was still competing that there was room for complacency. After a disappointing 2014 Asian Games for Hong Kong triathletes, he said he was “very disappointed” at his eighth place finish at the 2010 Asiad. Because it was “responsible for maintaining funds.”
Wright said the cash injection absolves triathlete officials of responsibility for broader performance, while supporting a culture that supports one strong athlete who performs well enough to win a sport-wide government subsidy. felt that it would be maintained.
Now, Wright is pushing for more accountability because “this is an elite sport, not a jobs program.”
Since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the government has evaluated sports, scoring mechanisms and standards and extended the status of all Tier A*, Tier A and Tier B sports until March 2025.
In December 2022, the Sports Commission cited “the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on athletes participating in major international competitions” as the reason.
Some athletes told the Post off the record late in the pandemic that they were advised by HKSI staff (essentially their employers) not to leave the city to compete.
HKSI has been approached to comment on this.
Also hampered by Hong Kong’s strict quarantine rules for arrivals, some taxpayer-funded athletes have been absent from international competitions long after global sport has returned to normal, losing points and points in world rankings. You’ve lost career momentum and an opportunity to provide value for your investment.
In addition to participating in the Olympics and Asian Games over the long term, sports are played on a four-year cycle based on performance such as qualifying for the Olympics, winning medals at the World Championships and Asian Games, and winning gold medals at national competitions. You must earn points within.
Two of the eight gold medals won by Hong Kong in Hangzhou were won by Haughey. His total of six medals overshadowed the decent returns of Hong Kong’s swimmers. In the other Blue Ribbon sports, track and field and gymnastics, the only bronze medal was won by long jumper Tiffany Yue Gayan.
Mr Leahy said Hong Kong was adopting a “relative success model” in planning the Paris Olympics. She declined to put a number on the medals in question, but said: “I am confident that the athletes will perform well according to their level.
“The first goal is to qualify and then reaching the top eight is the main benchmark, because otherwise there is no chance of a podium. There are so many parameters involved in winning medals. .”
Hong Kong talent shortage
Track and field has returned one bronze in each of the past three Asian Games, while gymnastics has returned one gold in both 2014 and 2018.
The Hong Kong SI said the lack of talent in some sports was a problem for individual governing bodies.
A spokesperson said: “The athlete’s development process usually begins with the feeder systems and training programs provided by each national sports association. Based on their recommendations, young sporting talents have the potential to become HKSI scholarship athletes.”
Leahy added: [athletics and gymnastics results] This is part of an ongoing development and review process. We work closely with governing bodies. They are responsible for ensuring a pipeline of athletes coming to the Institute. We have a responsibility to try to improve them.
“But track and field, gymnastics, and swimming are basic physical exercises. When we think of young children learning physical literacy and the basics of movement, we think of gymnastics, track and field, and swimming.
“We are aware that the relevant governing bodies are actively considering how they can develop better, and we will support them in any way possible.”
Additional reporting by Mike Chan
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