From strength to strength: Hong Kong’s rise as hub for sporting excellence
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has built city’s renowned horse-racing tradition and been pivotal to support of its world-class home-grown athletes
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The Hong Kong Jockey Club celebrates 140 years supporting its home city
The official opening of the HK$30 billion (US$3.8 billion) Kai Tak Sports Park in March – with an eponymous 50,000-seater stadium as a centrepiece and facilities for the public – has strengthened Hong Kong’s reputation as a hub for sports events that cater for everyone, from professionals to the city’s grass-roots enthusiasts.
It builds on the standards set by such iconic venues as the racecourses at Happy Valley and Sha Tin – hosts of the 88 annual racedays that have long established horse racing as the city’s No 1 spectator sport – and Hong Kong Stadium, which has helped welcome global sports to the city since its 1994 reopening after redevelopment funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
The opening of the new facilities came after Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring sport is a pillar of local society during last year’s annual policy address while mapping out his plans for future support.
Nearly HK$8 billion has been earmarked for sports development this year – a figure that has more than doubled in the past 10 years – as individual Hong Kong athletes continue to make their mark on a host of international sports.
The policy address also announced that horse racing has been included in the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau’s Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0. In March, the HKJC signed a memorandum of understanding with China Travel Service (Hong Kong) to jointly promote horse racing tourism, cultural exchange and youth development between Hong Kong and mainland China.
Over the decades, the HKJC has been hosting international competitions featuring top international jockeys and trainers, including 12 of the world’s most prestigious Group One races.