Hong Kong Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association accused of withholding funds from members, creating ‘a living hell’
- Several athletes have accused the association of withholding government funds, something officials have denied
- Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong, a member of the New People’s Party, has called for the government to step in
A Hong Kong lawmaker has said a sports association accused of withholding athletes’ funding had created “a living hell” for members and called for the government to step in.
Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong, a member of the New People’s Party, was responding to complaints surrounding the Hong Kong Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association.
Several athletes, including Masahito Kitsui and Raymond Fong Chai-chi, have accused the association of: withholding government funds meant for individuals, demanding they pay more than HK$1 million in coaching fees, and not developing the sport in any meaningful way.
The association has denied withholding grant funding, adding the pair “volunteered” to pay coaching staff and said there were “inconsistencies” in their statements.
Kitsui, 46, who won gold at the Asian Bench Press Championships in 2014 and is a former world no 2, has said the governing body kept more than HK$200,000 of the Sports Aid Grant awarded to him.
The grant is given by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) to elite athletes who are not supported under Tier A sports or the Individual Athletes Support Scheme (IASS).