Jockey Club-supported basketball development programme to benefit over 32,000 people
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To provide more children and young people with opportunities to engage with basketball, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has committed HK$70.75 million through its Charities Trust to support a three-year Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme. This initiative, to be jointly implemented by InspiringHK Sports Foundation (IHKSports), The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA) and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), aims to make basketball more accessible for students and underprivileged groups, thereby enhancing their physical and mental well-being and fostering their personal growth.
The programme kick-off ceremony took place on 13 September at Tai Kwun. Attending guests included Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Kenneth Fok, Member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR and Vice President of Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China; Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups; Billie Lau, Executive Director of The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong and Yasmin Fong, Board Member of the InspiringHK Sports Foundation.
.jpg?itok=Eg4Ajo2S "Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (3rd right); Kenneth Fok, Member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR and Vice President of Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (2nd left); Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (3rd left); Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (2nd right); Billie Lau, Executive Director of The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong (1st left); Yasmin Fong, Board Member of the InspiringHK Sports Foundation (1st right), and other guests at the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony.")
.jpg?itok=1dySt7u6 "Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges delivers a speech at the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony.")
Tailor-made basketball training for children and youth aged 5 to 24:
- Introductory courses for kindergarten and primary students to spark their interest in basketball and foster an active lifestyle
- A training model for primary schools, designed by professionals including social workers and sports psychologists, to help students build a strong foundation for their growth.
- Skill-focused district training programmes led by coaches from the East Asia Super League to provide young people, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, with more access to high-quality professional training and elite-level competitions to enhance their skills.
Capacity-building courses and workshops:
- Basketball-related programmes to equip young people with soft and hard skills, helping them understand the industry and explore career pathways.
- Professional training for coaches to and skill enhancement workshops for social workers, to ensure the quality of the programme.
Events to foster basketball development in Hong Kong:
- Inter-school championships, basketball-themed challenge days, carnivals and school tours to promote healthy lifestyles and physical development.
- Outstanding students will be invited to participate in competitions and exchange activities.
.jpg?itok=H6465pVr "Officiating guests interact with young people during the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme.")
In the last ten years alone, the Club’s Charities Trust has provided HK$6.69 billion to support sports development at both elite and community levels. The Club also supports the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, which rewards the achievements of top athletes, and most recently committed HK$500 million to support the Hong Kong and Guangdong Competition regions in the upcoming 15th National Games, 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th National Special Olympic Games. The Club also has long-standing programmes to promote equestrian sport and to develop young people through football.
Additionally, the Club has supported a number of basketball initiatives over the years. Most notably, with 3 on 3 basketball now a medal event at the Olympic and Asian Games, the Club has organised the HKJC Community Cup 3 on 3 Basketball Championship to support this emerging game’s development among young people.
Other past basketball-related initiatives include the “Jockey Club Sports Empowering Programme” organised by the Department of Health and Physical Education of the Education University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with local sports associations including Hoops for Hope Basketball Asia, and the Club-supported “HKFYG Jockey Club Youth Sports Development Project”, which encourages young people to participate in sports, including basketball. The Club has also funded renovations at Southorn Stadium, including upgrading basketball facilities to enable it to host more high-level, large-scale and international competitions and events.
