Hong Kong losing young talent because of lack of facilities, athletics coach warns
- ‘Our base in the grassroots disappeared,’ long-serving coach says, as HKAAA boss asks government to discuss the problem
- City has only three venues for athletes’ exclusive use, for limited hours each week, with public having priority elsewhere, they say
Hong Kong’s athletics chief is seeking talks with the government about a shortage of training facilities, which a long-time coach told the Post had already cost the city plenty of young talent.
Last month’s Asian Youth Under-18 Championships produced Hong Kong’s best haul of eight medals, but Kwan Kee, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA), revealed he wanted more to be done for up-and-coming athletes.
“We won the historic eight medals [but] not all of these young athletes have a consistent place to train,” Kwan said. “It’s been a problem for a long time. I hope the government will fix it as soon as possible.”
Kwan was speaking at a prize presentation for the Asian youth medallists, who received a total of HK$233,000. The city had won three medals at the 2015 championships, four in 2017 and three in 2019.
A government report this year stated that more than 80 per cent of total usage of sports grounds was by joggers.
“Our athletes are not joggers,” Kwan said.
