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Unus Alladin

A RECORD sum of almost $80 million will be spent on Hongkong sport in the next financial year.

 The figure of $79.4 million, representing an increase of almost 50 per cent on the $55 million set aside for the 1992-93 financial year will be made available by the Sports Development Board (SDB).

 The amount includes $18 million interest from the SDB's Trust Fund of $200 million, established from the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club's donation of $250 million last July.

  Direct grants to all 50 sports associations and the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hongkong will amount to $36.29 million, which represents a significant increase of 23 per cent from last year.

 SDB director of development services, Mick Aitken, said the SDB's budget had grown significantly and that made it easier than ever before for the body to support the national associations.

 ''We have seen the budget grow significantly from $55 million last year to $79.4 million. I would say that is a sizeable growth which goes a long way in meeting our strategic goals,'' said Aitken.

 ''We always need more money for the things that we would like to do, but all in all, that's the budget we are pleased to be able to allocate to the national sports associations in their financial planning and to ensure the success of Hongkong sport.

 ''In 1989, $11 million went into the national sports associations before the advent of the SDB. The budget has grown in leaps and bounds and this year is another continuation of that,'' he added.

 Seven target sports - badminton, soccer, rowing, squash, swimming, table tennis and windsurfing - will each receive at least $1.4 million in the new budget.

 And in line with the SDB's policy of strengthening career prospects in sport, 18 additional full-time posts have been created among 14 sports associations. This will include eight associations being given new coaching directors for the first time.

 It is likely that the new coaching directors will be recruited for soccer, squash and triathlon although it will depend on whether each association can recruit the right person for the job.

 ''We made a decision in November to look at subvention to develop a proper structure for coaching. It's an investment and a move ahead and something we should have done long time ago,'' said SDB executive director Howard Wells.

 ''With the Coaching Education Programme set up in 1991, it was the only way to move ahead. We thought it needed somebody responsible for the programme.''  The SDB have also set aside $1 million for recruiting ''performance'' coaches geared specifically for next year's Asian Games in Hiroshima.

 These coaches will be recruited on a short-term basis and will help the territory's best medal prospects sharpen up for Hiroshima.

 Sports associations planning to host major international events will be helped by a $1.5 million fund.

 Sports development programmes will also benefit from this year's budget with $18.86 million being available for a number of other sports development programmes.

 The activities of the Hongkong Coaching Education and Accreditation Programme will develop at a faster pace thanks to a $4.2 million sum. Another principal benefactor will be the Sport in Education Programme with $3.2 million set aside.

     for various school sports projects.

 Funds have also been allocated to other major programmes including sports research and community sports development, while continuous support will be given to the operation of the Hongkong Sports Information Centre as well as subvention to the inaugural East Asian Games in Shanghai.



All sports to benefit from $80m SDB budget