Sports coaches to receive one-off subsidy of HK$7,500 from the government’s latest Anti-epidemic Fund
- Coaches must register with their NSAs or sports organisations affected by the closure of sports venues or social distancing measures
- A survey has found 60 per cent of sports coaches take on additional part-time roles in order to make a living
Sports coaches affected by the coronavirus outbreak will receive a one-off grant of HK$7,500 as Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor revealed a relief package on Wednesday to help people through the crisis.
The Home Affairs Bureau will discuss the matter with the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee for a more detailed implementation arrangement soon. The scheme will be implemented via National Sports Associations (NSAs) and Sports Organisations (SOs).
“In order to relieve the pressure on sports coaches affected by the closure of public sports venues and social distancing measures, the fund will extend [its coverage] to cover sports coaches engaged by NSAs and SOs as well as self-employed sports coaches registered under NSAs and SOs,” a government statement said of the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF).
“Subject to funding approval from LegCo, registered coaches who can provide [document] proof of active coaching during the past one year and who have not applied for relief grants under other schemes in the first and second rounds of the AEF may apply for a one-off grant of HK$7,500.”
The sports community did not benefit from the first round of AEF relief measures, and a concern group, Hong Kong Sports Alliance, urged the government last week to provide financial aid to coaches struggling to make a living since the coronavirus outbreak in January.