Tokyo Olympics: HK$5 million cash carrot up for grabs for Hong Kong gold medal winners

Individual gold medal winner will reap HK$5 million, while team success will bring HK$10 million in highest ever incentive scheme

Athletes such as Sarah Lee, Siobhan Haughey, Vivian Kong and Grace Lau are all considered medal prospects in Tokyo

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Track cycling star Sarah Lee with the gold she won at the 2019 world championships. She will be chasing gold in Tokyo. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 2:50pm, 8 Jul 2021Updated: 10:26pm, 8 Jul 2021

Hong Kong athletes will be eyeing more than a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics this month – a HK$5 million cash award will be up for grabs for individual glory.

The government will today announce an incentive scheme that rewards individual and team medal success at the delayed Games, starting on July 23.

The Hong Kong team will now comprise 46 athletes, including two table tennis reserves. It is the second largest delegation sent to an Olympics.

The incentives will be the highest since the scheme was launched some two decades ago, thanks to the support of a property developer.

Sarah Lee on the podium after winning the sprint final at the UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup in the Hong Kong in May. Photo: Cycling Association of Hong Kong

An individual gold medallist will bank HK$5 million, up from HK$3 million at the 2016 Rio Olympics. A silver medallist will receive HK$2.5 million and a bronze medallist HK$1.25 million.

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