Select squads a money saver
THE Sports Development Board could save close to $1.5 million on the costs of sending Hong Kong's athletes to this year's major events.
The board had budgeted for approximately $6.7 million to finance the territory's squads for August's Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada and October's Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan.
But due largely to strict screening procedures of athletes linked to both national associations and the National Olympic Committee, the costs are unlikely to be so high.
Board executive director, Howard Wells, said: ''We budgeted for $6.7 million but it is likely to be around $5 million or $5.5 million.
''It has always been the Government's practice to fund 90 per cent of the total costs, so it is not a problem.'' Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee president, A. de O. Sales, said earlier this week that Hong Kong would send around 200 athletes and officials to Hiroshima.
The original estimates submitted to the board were 237 for the Asian Games, and 100 for the Commonwealth Games.
Added Wells: ''We budgeted according to the original estimates, which in the end, were not that far off.'' The ASF & OC will cover the remaining 10 per cent of the costs.
Hong Kong will take part in about 15 sports in Hiroshima, with soccer being the only team sport in which they are deemed competitive by the ASF & OC.
The territory were represented by nearly 300 athletes and officials at the Beijing Games four years ago.
The ASF & OC felt it was important to send a large squad to China's first major international sporting event in a show of support.
The 74-strong squad headed for Victoria includes 53 athletes taking part in seven sports. The territory will compete in athletics, badminton, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls, shooting and swimming.
Hong Kong won gold in the badminton mixed doubles at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.
