Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme

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.

Group photo. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

The programme kick-off ceremony took place today (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.

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges highlighted that the Club has always been dedicated to sports development in Hong Kong, investing in both facilities and programmes to promote sport at all levels – from the grass roots to elite athletes, from kindergarten children to senior citizens. The Club is therefore pleased to join hands with its three outstanding partners to implement this three-year programme. Believing strongly in the power of sport to shape and change lives, the Club hopes that these basketball programmes will bring pleasure and fulfilment to young people in Hong Kong - helping them to live healthier, happier and more positive lives.

The three basketball programmes under the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme are InspiringHK Dream Factory run by IHKSports; BGCA Care run by BGCA; and HKFYG Hustle 5 run by HKFYG. The programmes are expected to benefit more than 32,000 people, including over 660 coaches. Key elements include:

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges delivers a speech at the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

• 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.

Officiating guests and local elite basketball players Ivan Yang and Kelvin Tsang interact with young people during the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

• 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.

Sports development is a major focus for the Club. Over the years, it has supported many sports initiatives to nurture talent and promote a healthier and more vibrant society instilled with positive attitudes and values, all of which is in line with the Club’s purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of society.

Officiating guests and local elite basketball players Ivan Yang and Kelvin Tsang interact with young people during the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

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.

The Club’s support for the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.

Officiating guests and local elite basketball players Ivan Yang and Kelvin Tsang interact with young people during the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme factsheet

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has committed HK$70.75 million to support a three-year Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme to be co-run by the InspiringHK Sports Foundation, The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

The programme will feature a variety of initiatives to make basketball more accessible for students and underprivileged young people, thereby enhancing their physical and mental well-being and fostering their personal growth. It is expected to benefit more than 32,000 people, including over 660 coaches.

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges: “We want to do even more for sports, and we have decided that we will double our amount we will fund to sports development in the next three years. So we plan, in a way, in the next three years to spend 3 billion on sports and sports development. ”

The main components of the three basketball development initiatives under the Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme are:

• Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme: InspiringHK Dream Factory

• 3x3 basketball, an accessible and fun basketball format, will be introduced to kindergarten and lower primary school students, to enable them to develop healthy and active lifestyles from a young age.

• Adopting a progressive, step-by-step approach, a school-based 3x3 basketball training scheme will be designed by professionals, including sports coaches and sports psychologists, to enable the primary students to build a strong foundation for their growth. An inter-school 3x3 Championship will provide a competitive platform for school teams.

• To support the effective delivery of the school-based 3x3 basketball training scheme, training courses will enhance the skills of basketball coaches and university students studying subjects related to sport and sports education.

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 lrft); 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. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

• Basketball skills enhancement clinics will enable children and young people, outside of the programme to experience 3x3 basketball on weekends and public holidays.

• Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme: BGCA Care

• A youth development-oriented league will be launched for young people, combining regular basketball training and competitions with career and life planning to equip them with the skills needed to overcome life challenges and develop transferable skills for their future endeavours.

• Social workers will collaborate with coaches to prepare individual development plans for youth participants. They will also introduce basketball-related industries to help them explore different career and life development paths.

• Academic experts will share techniques with social workers to better manage issues impacting young people.

• Participating youths will be encouraged to organise social service events to give back to the community.

• Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme: HKFYG Hustle 5

• East Asia Super League (EASL) coaches will be invited to lead regular district basketball training sessions, giving students and underprivileged youngsters access to high-quality professional training and elite-level competitions.

• Training courses will help basketball coaches to enhance their skills and teach EASL courses more effectively.

• EASL will invite 20 outstanding Hong Kong students to showcase the skills they have learned alongside peers from Macau and the Philippines.

• Basketball-themed challenge days, carnivals and school tours will promote healthy lifestyles and physical development.

Over the years, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has consistently supported the advancement of the country’s sports development and the promotion of inclusivity in sports, encouraging people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to lead active and healthy lifestyles. In the last ten years alone, the Club’s Charities Trust has provided nearly HK$6.7 billion to support sports development at both elite and community levels.

The Hon Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism (3rd left); Lin Nan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (2nd right); The Hon Martin Liao, Club Chairman (3rd right); Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Club Chief Executive Officer (2nd left); The Hon Kenneth Fok, Member of the Legislative Council (1st right), and George Tsoi, Commissioner for Sports (1st left) officiate at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day.

Today, the Club stated that it will continue its efforts to advance sports development in Hong Kong. By bringing major sports events into the community and progressing towards professional and industry development, the Club aims to support the HKSAR Government’s efforts to promote sports in the community, support elite sports, maintain Hong Kong’s status as a centre for major international sports events, enhance professionalism and develop sports as an industry.

This year’s The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day was held at Sha Tin Racecourse, attracting over 200 charity and community representatives. The ceremony was officiated by The Hon Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Lin Nan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; The Hon Martin Liao, Club Chairman; Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Club Chief Executive Officer; The Hon Kenneth Fok, Member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR; and George Tsoi, Commissioner for Sports of the HKSAR Government.

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao said this year’s Community Day, featuring sports as its theme, aimed to showcase the Club’s contribution and strong commitment to sports development in Hong Kong.

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao highlighted that horse racing is a symbol of the city’s prosperity and stability under One Country, Two Systems, and remains a highly popular sport, embodying Hong Kong’s “can-do” spirit. This year’s Community Day features sports as its theme, showcasing the Club’s contribution and strong commitment to sports development in Hong Kong. Through its unique integrated business model, the Club delivers world-class horse racing and responsible wagering, supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling, and generates economic and social value for Hong Kong through tax contributions, charity donations and employment opportunities for the betterment of society. In the last financial year, the Club contributed a total of HK$39.1 billion to society, including HK$9.0 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, with its Charities Trust among the biggest donors worldwide and the largest in Asia.

The Hon Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, noted that the Club has long been one of the Government’s most valued partners in the promotion of sports.

The Hon Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasised the Government’s continued commitment to investing in and promoting sports development in Hong Kong. She noted that the Club has long been one of the Government’s most valued partners in the promotion of sports, from supporting the construction of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (formerly the Jubilee Sports Centre) in the late 1970s to its support for the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, as well as various “M” Mark events including the Hong Kong Sevens, which concludes today at Kai Tak Sports Park.

Officiating guests, Club Stewards and members of the Club’s Board of Management toast the success of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day.

Going forward, the Club will continue to work alongside stakeholders to contribute to Hong Kong’s sports development blueprint. Leveraging major sports events as a platform, the Club will bring sports culture deeper into the community through continued support for multiple “M” Mark events as an Official Community Partner, enabling broader participation, including among underprivileged groups, to experience the appeal of sports and promote social inclusion. In parallel, new initiatives will continue to be introduced, such as this week’s “Racing with Rugby”, to further enhance the economic impact, international profile and benefits of sports development generated by major events in Hong Kong.

The Hon Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism (centre), together with The Hon Martin Liao, Club Chairman (left) and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Club Chief Executive Officer (right) in a group photo.

The Club will also actively foster a vibrant culture of community sports by developing iconic sports such as equestrian, football, basketball, golf and rugby, broadening the public’s exposure while deepening interest and sports literacy. These diverse activities and support programmes will help enhance youth resilience, improve physical and mental health, and strengthen social cohesion, thereby fostering positive values.

The Hon Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism (right), presents The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy to Alan Hu (left), owner of the winning horse Absolute Honour. The historic 170-year-old trophy was generously donated by the late Tobias Brown in recognition of the Club’s charitable contributions to the community.

To further strengthen the sports ecosystem and promote sustainable development, the Club will continue to enhance talent development, strengthen corporate governance and improve management capacity across sports organisations. These efforts will generate greater social impact, raise professional standards across the sector, and support the development of both elite and community sports. Through these initiatives, the Club aims to work closely with the HKSAR Government and partners across society to inject new momentum in local sports development and reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a world-class destination for sports, entertainment and tourism.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy presentation ceremony.

Sports development remains one of the Club’s key focus areas. The Club has long supported a wide range of sports initiatives to promote a healthier and more vibrant society. These include:

• The Trust-initiated and funded JC Fit City, which encourages citizens to incorporate sports and exercise into their daily lives to achieve the World Health Organization’s recommended weekly level of physical activity;

• JC Project MuSE, a school-based music (Mu) and sports (S) education (E) programme for primary school children in the most impoverished areas of Hong Kong;

• The Jockey Club HKFA Football Development Programme, which empowers people of all ages and abilities - including students, parents, coaches and seniors - to experience the joy of football;

• The Jockey Club Youth Football Academy Summit, which provides a platform for young footballers from different areas to learn, exchange views, and understand cultural differences.

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (centre), together with JC Fit City participant Yui (right) and JC Fit City project partner representative Lily Tse (left) pose for a photo. Yui shared that the JC Fit City project helped him break the “sport-zero” habit and significantly improve his health.

The Club initiated the annual Community Day race meeting in 2005 as a way of honouring its successful partnerships with Government and community organisations for the betterment of society. This initiative followed the generous donation of a silver racing trophy, over 170 years old, by the late Tobias Brown, in recognition of the Club’s charitable contributions to the community. It has since been renamed The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy. It was won this year by Absolute Honour, ridden by Zac Purton. The Hon Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the trophy to winning owner Alan Hu.