Jockey Club takes part in the 15th National Games torch relay as excitement for event builds in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong torch relay for the 15th National Games was held today (2 November), with nine torchbearers from The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) proudly taking part. Additionally, the Club’s CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team, also serving as Group Volunteers for the Hong Kong Competition Region, cheered on torchbearers along the relay route in celebration of the Games.

Jockey Club takes part in the 15th National Games torch relay as excitement for event builds in Hong Kong. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Club, as the sole Partner Sponsor of the Hong Kong Competition Region of the 15th National Games, 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th National Special Olympic Games (NGD & NSOG), is honoured to have taken part in the torch relay. Its participation highlights the Club’s vitality and unity in inspiring the community, while reaffirming its steadfast support for the 15th National Games.

Jockey Club takes part in the 15th National Games torch relay as excitement for event builds in Hong Kong. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, served as the 4th torchbearer, running the Central and Western Promenade (Central Section). Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, participated as the 47th torchbearer along the final stretch of the relay at Kai Tak.

Jockey Club takes part in the 15th National Games torch relay as excitement for event builds in Hong Kong. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Notably, two legs of the Hong Kong relay were run by groups of torchbearers, one of which comprised Club representatives. Torchbearers for the “HKJC group”, carrying the flame in Tsim Sha Tsui, are Jockey Vincent Ho - Hong Kong’s first home-grown jockey to win the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship and six other Club representatives from various divisions - some of whom are retired athletes. They included: Amanda Bond from Equestrian Affairs; Hanane Sabri from Racing Marketing (former French national runner); Chris Lo from Football Wagering; Christen Ho from Corporate Security; Nathan Ho from Charities (former Hong Kong rowing elite athlete); and Trainee Apprentice Jockey Alan Lai. Their participation underscored the Club’s purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of society in every respect and the multiculturalism.

Jockey Club takes part in the 15th National Games torch relay as excitement for event builds in Hong Kong. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

In support of the National Games, the Club has committed over HK$500 million to the Hong Kong and Guangdong Competition Regions. As sole Partner Sponsor of the Hong Kong Competition Region, it is supporting volunteer service programmes, territory-wide community and school promotional activities, as well as initiatives to help underprivileged groups and young people attend the events as spectators. Some 100 members from the Club’s Volunteer Team will help out as Group Volunteers in the Hong Kong Competition Region.

Jockey Club takes part in the 15th National Games torch relay as excitement for event builds in Hong Kong. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

In the Guangdong Competition Region, the Club is providing high-quality technical support for the equestrian events in Shenzhen, leveraging its extensive experience in organising horse sports competitions. To help ensure the equestrian events are conducted to a high standard, the Club is also deploying an expert team and loaning specialist equipment. Additionally, the Club will support the Guangdong Competition Region’s official activities, volunteer services and promotion work.

Jockey Club takes part in the 15th National Games torch relay as excitement for event builds in Hong Kong. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

To recognise the achievements of Hong Kong athletes at the 15th National Games, the Club is sponsoring the Hong Kong Sports Institute to provide cash incentives to medal winners under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme.

Jockey Club takes part in the 15th National Games torch relay as excitement for event builds in Hong Kong. Image source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), in collaboration with five non-governmental organisations (NGOs), launched the Jockey Club SafeMove Fall Management Programme today. Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for 45 months, the Programme is Hong Kong’s first fall-management initiative to combine judo-based safe landing techniques with the biomechanics of falling. It is expected to benefit around 17,000 older adults in the community aged 60 or above, helping those at moderate to high risk of falling to acquire safe landing and self-protection skills to reduce injuries.

Officiating guests at the launch ceremony of the “Jockey Club SafeMove Fall Management Programme” were Mr Ho Kai-ming, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, the Government of the HKSAR(centre); Ms Pauline Chu, Chief Manager (Community Service Network) of the Primary Healthcare Commission(2nd from right); Dr Laura Lo, Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement)of PolyU (3rd from right); Ms Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Health & Older Adults Cluster) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club(3rd from left); Prof. Marco Pang, Head of RS(2nd from left); Prof. Amy Fu, Associate Head of RS(1st from right); and the the “Jockey Club SafeMove Fall Management Programme” Ambassador Mr Shek Sau(1st from left). Photo source: PolyU

According to statistics from the Department of Health, some 16% of older adults in Hong Kong experience at least one fall per year, with approximately one in 10 resulting in fractures. Falls can significantly affect mobility and have a long-term impact on older adults’ physical and mental well-being and quality of life. By identifying those most at risk of falling and managing those risks effectively, the Programme seeks to shift Hong Kong’s public health approach from reactive care to proactive prevention – fostering healthy, independent and active ageing.

A launch ceremony for the Programme was held on the PolyU campus today. Officiating guests were Mr Ho Kai-ming, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; Ms Pauline Chu, Chief Manager (Community Service Network) of the Primary Healthcare Commission under the Health Bureau; Dr Laura Lo, Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement) of PolyU; Ms Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Health & Older Adults Cluster) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Prof. Marco Pang, Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS) at PolyU; Prof. Amy Fu, Associate Head of RS at PolyU; and Jockey Club SafeMove Fall Management Programme Ambassador Mr Shek Sau.

Mr Shek Sau (centre) shared tips for maintaining a healthylifestyle, while Programmeinstructors demonstrated safe landing techniques. Photo source: PolyU

Participants in the Programme receive bone density screening and AI-driven fall-risk assessments developed by RS. Those found eligible are invited to join a 12-week fall preparedness training scheme jointly designed by PolyU researchers and professional judo coaches. This teaches them safe landing and body protection techniques to help reduce the force of impact and minimise the risk of fractures caused by falls. Consultations with PolyU physiotherapists are also open to participants.

Mr Ho Kai-ming said, “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to The Hong Kong Jockey Club for its generous support, and to PolyU for translating advanced knowledge in rehabilitation sciences into tangible community benefits. The Programme is named ‘SafeMove’, which signifies helping elderly persons enhance their physical flexibility and adaptability so that they can respond calmly to the risk of falling. It marks a shift in the public health paradigm from reactive care to proactive prevention, and aligns closely with the Government’s policy of promoting prevention-oriented elderly care and carer support. Through the Pilot Scheme on Intelligent Accident Detection Systems, the Government is providing high-risk households with real-time detection and support. This complements the ‘safe landing’ training under the Programme, jointly weaving a more robust safety net for elderly persons at home.”

Mr Ho Kai-mingsaid the Programme alignedclosely with theGovernment’s policy of promoting prevention-oriented elderly care and carer support. Photo source: PolyU

Dr Laura Lo remarked, “As an institution committed to addressing societal needs and enhancing community well-being through world-leading research and innovative knowledge, PolyU is proud to see the Jockey Club SafeMove Fall Management Programme come to life today. This initiative exemplifies our dedication to translating research outcomes into meaningful social impact. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for its generous support of this Programme, and to extend my sincere thanks to our five partner NGOs and the research team from PolyU’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences for their dedication and hard work. Together they have established a cross-sector collaboration platform that connects research, professional services and community networks for the benefit of older adults across Hong Kong.”

Dr Laura Lo said that PolyU is committed to addressing societal needs and enhancing community well-being through world-leading research and innovative knowledge. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the five partner NGOs and the research team from PolyU's Department of Rehabilitation Sciences for their dedication in building cross-sector collaboration platform that connects research, professional services and community networks for the benefit of older adults across Hong Kong. Photo source: PolyU

Ms Imelda Chan added, “Promoting better health is one of the strategic priorities of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Riding on our ongoing commitment to prevent falls and fractures among older adults, the Trust has approved a donation of over HK$119 million to support the Jockey Club SafeMove Fall Management Programme jointly implemented by PolyU and five NGOs. As Hong Kong’s first large-scale community programme to integrate judo-based landing techniques with the biomechanics of falling, the Programme translates research evidence into innovative primary health-care services and establishes a community-based, sustainable fall management model, demonstrating the Club’s commitment to advancing impactful philanthropy and the betterment of our society.”

MsImelda Chan said,riding on its ongoing commitment to prevent falls and fractures among older adults, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has approved a donation of over HK$119 million to support the Programme, translating research evidence into innovative primary health-care services. This demonstrates the Club’s commitment to advancing impactful philanthropy and the betterment of our society. Photo source: PolyU

The PolyU research team anticipates that the Jockey Club SafeMove Fall Management Programme will help to reduce fall-related injuries and associated health-care expenditure among participants, improve their physical functioning and mobility and alleviate the psychological and social burdens that the fear of falling can create, enhancing overall health and quality of life.

The “Jockey Club SafeMove Fall Management Programme” is expected to not only strengthen older adults’ fall prevention and self-protection capabilities, but also to enhance their physical resilience and adaptability. The PolyU research team anticipates that the initiative will help reduce fall-related injuries and associated healthcare expenditure, improve physical functioning and mobility, and alleviate the psychological and social burdens arising from the fear of falling, thereby enhancing overall health and quality of life.

PolyUholds the launch ceremony of the “Jockey Club SafeMove Fall Management Programme”. Photo source: PolyU