Hong Kong won’t produce Olympic talent like Siobhan Haughey unless it builds world-class sport facilities, coach warns
- Sport officials in dark over government spending and venue plans as the city looks to push on from a successful Asian Games
- Haughey’s ex-coach warns of lack of facilities and international exposure for coaches, as Olympic committee tells government to ‘speed up’
 - Mike Chan.jpeg?itok=EQbwYm3R&v=1669714688)
Siobhan Haughey’s former swimming coach has warned Hong Kong could struggle to guide her successors to glory, and sporting associations have joined local Olympic officials in urging progress from the government on the new facilities it promised.
The Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong called on the government to “speed up” its efforts, while Michael Fasching, who coached the best athlete the city has ever produced in her formative years, said coaches of the young Hongkongers who might follow in her slipstream “lack sufficient access to facilities and opportunities for international exposure”.
Two months after the annual Policy Address by the city’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu announced increased investment in athletes and specified facilities for swimming and fencing, sporting bodies remain in the dark about what new funds have been allocated and details of venues being built.
Government departments and agencies have declined or refused repeatedly to answer questions about the sums of public money involved, with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) repeating updates about facilities promised previously.
The October 2022 Policy Address had announced a 10-year blueprint for facilities, involving about 30 venues such as sports centres, swimming pools and parks.
Asked by the Post in November 2023 how that blueprint was progressing, the CSTB initially referenced a statement issued last March by Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung.
That statement said the government engaged a consultant in 2017, and was “following up” on those recommendations. Pushed in December for an update or timeline, the CSTB repeated word for word the answer Yeung gave nine months earlier.
Olympic committee vice-president Kenneth Fok Kai-kong recommended the government “build the venues as soon as possible” and “speed up the co-ordination of funds and the identification of suitable locations”.
“I hope that when the government is planning its construction, they will maintain close communications with the industry to understand the actual needs of swimming and fencing,” Fok added.
Lee’s 2023 Policy Address referred to “a swimming pool suitable for hosting international competitions, as well as an arena with fencing training and competition facilities”.
Fasching, who started training Haughey when she was 12, said it was “crucial” to have more swimming facilities that were both high-quality and accessible.
“Ideally, we need at least four top-tier pools equipped with modern strength and conditioning rooms,” he said, noting Hong Kong’s existing total of three, at Kowloon Park, Victoria Park and Hong Kong Sports Institute in Fotan.
“Additionally, these pools should prioritise training and competitions without compromising public access, because accessible facilities are crucial – proximity played a pivotal role in Haughey’s success.”
Fasching said Hong Kong still lagged behind Europe, Australia and the United States despite a “positive” shift in attitude towards sport.
“Resistance from local parents regarding the demanding training regimes remains a challenge,” the German said. “Hong Kong possesses skilled coaches, but they lack sufficient access to facilities and opportunities for international exposure.
“Hosting regional, continental and international competitions in Hong Kong is crucial. The aspiration to host such events will significantly contribute to the growth and inspiration of future athletes.”
Hong Kong’s swimming association declined to discuss what events the city could host or the benefits of doing so.
Fencing is expecting a new venue, according to Antonio Lam Hin-chung, manager of the city’s team. He hoped it could double the present space for training, and suggested a seating capacity of 5,000 was needed to stage international events – such as the World Championship, which Hong Kong is to host in 2026.
Other sports not mentioned in the Policy Address were keen to press their case.
Squash has “urgent” needs if Hong Kong is to continue its strong Asian Games record, according to local association chief Duncan Chiu Tat-kun. The sport has supplied medals, 23 in total, at every edition since in 1998.
Chiu said squash’s addition to the 2028 Olympics gave another incentive.
“We do lack venues for training,” he said. “We can hand [some small venues] back to the government for redevelopment if we can have a more centralised one in the Northern district.”
The 10-year blueprint included a second sports park to follow Kai Tak, located in Whitehead, Ma On Shan, and “large-scale” facilities near the mainland China border under the Northern Metropolis project.
Several sources with Hong Kong’s sport associations said they did not believe a Whitehead sports park would proceed soon, after Kai Tak underwent years of wrangling before construction even started.
Among the 16 projects targeted for phase one of the blueprint, the CSTB said funding approvals had been obtained and work commenced for two, a leisure complex and an outdoor space including children’s bike park, both at Anderson Road Quarry, Sai Kung.
Progress on another project had yet to be achieved. In March, the CSTB said it was examining conversion of a municipal services building near Jordan for sport climbing and skateboarding, and expected a feasibility study to be completed “this year”. As of Christmas, the study was ongoing.
