Chief Executive Carrie Lam today announced various measures conducive to the sustainable development of sport in Hong Kong.

The measures include expediting the Hong Kong Sports Institute's new building project so that it can be commissioned before the next Olympic Games and establishing a $300 million fund to enhance athletes’ competitiveness.

Mrs Lam said: “The performance of the Hong Kong, China Delegation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was distinguished, with it achieving the best results in Hong Kong history and making all Hong Kong people feel proud.

“The success of the Hong Kong athletes did not come about by chance. In addition to their own efforts and the support of different sectors, the Government's policy directives and its resource allocation were also indispensable.”

To enhance the sports institute's training facilities, the Government has decided to allocate $990 million as the project cost for its new building with about 9,000 sq m net operating floor area to expand its scientific conditioning and sports medicine centres, and provide additional training, resting and accommodation facilities for athletes.

The Government will strive to have the funding approved by the Legislative Council Public Works Subcommittee and Finance Committee before its current term ends in late October, so that works can be launched as early as possible.

The target is to commission the new building in June 2024 before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games.

The $300 million fund will be jointly financed by the Government and the Jockey Club Charities Trust to enhance the competitiveness of athletes at international events in the coming few years.

It will be used to conduct research in sport science and medicine, improve athletes' gear, purchase extra equipment for the two sports institute centres and more, benefiting elite athletes including those with disabilities.

Apart from the fund, the Government will also encourage tertiary institutions to provide support for elite athletes, enabling them to engage in dual career development in sport and academic pursuits.

The sports institute has collaborated with 12 local tertiary institutions to create multiple pathways for athletes and provide them with more flexible learning arrangements. Currently, about 170 active institute athletes are studying in tertiary institutions, and about 60 of them have benefitted from co-operation agreements between the institute and various tertiary institutions.

To strengthen sport development at the school level, the Government will study how to build a good foundation of sport for students through the school curriculum and extracurricular activities and increase their opportunities to participate in various sport events and competitions, promote sport in the community and its development as well as nurture more elite athletes in the future.

With the commissioning of the Kai Tak Sports Park in 2023, the Government also aims to promote sport as a career, a profession and an industry to provide retired athletes and youngsters with job and development opportunities in venue management, sport administration, sport science and medicine as well as organisation of mega sport events.

“There will be a number of important sport events taking place in the future, including the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games to begin later this month, the National Games to be held in Shaanxi Province next month, the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and the Asian Games in Hangzhou to be held next year, as well as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“I call on members of the public to continue their support for Hong Kong athletes and also encourage them to do more exercise to create a sports-for-all atmosphere.”