Hong Kong disabled athletes ‘need more backing’, says study after training grant disparity is revealed
A study conducted by Baptist University recommends the city’s Paralympians should be treated the same as their able-bodied counterparts if they want more success on the international stage
Hong Kong’s disabled athletes should receive the same level of training and financial support as their able-bodied counterparts under a new full-time training scheme, a consultancy study recommended.
Currently, disabled athletes are part-timers and often face difficulties such as obtaining leave from their employers to prepare for and participate in major competitions. They also receive much less support than their elite-athlete counterparts.
A leading athlete such as cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze can receive a maximum elite training grant of HK$36,000 per month but a top disabled athlete only receive a subsidy of just HK$6,000, through the Sports Aid Grant for Athletes with Disabilities.
In Singapore, the level of and criteria for support for both able-bodied elite athletes and disabled elite athletes are similar, according to the study conducted by the Baptist University.
“A full-time training system is pivotal in the development of disabled sports in Hong Kong,” said professor Cheung Siu-yin, deputy leader of the consultant team at the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). “I think the relevant bodies should look at the trend of disabled sports around the world as it is no longer promoted for rehabilitation like its original aim but being a competitive sport like the able-bodied events.
“The Paralympic Games in Rio has proved if we want our disabled athletes to achieve results, we have to provide them with adequate and quality training so that they can compete against rivals from around the world who are mostly full-time athletes. This cannot be done without introducing a new support scheme including raising the level of financial support to disabled athletes.”