LCQ21: Support for Hong Kong athletes participating in mega sports events
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     Following is a question by Dr Hon Kenneth Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, in the Legislative Council today (March 19):

Question:

     Last month, an athlete representing Hong Kong to participate in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games (OWG) held in Sochi, Russia said that he had requested the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) to arrange for a team doctor to accompany him, but the request was turned down. The incident has received extensive media coverage. It has been reported that no medical official was included in the Hong Kong delegations to the OWG in 2002, 2006 and 2010. Regarding the composition and expenditure of Hong Kong delegations participating in mega international sports events, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it knows if SF&OC took the initiative to ask the Hong Kong Skating Union as well as the coach and the athlete concerned whether they needed the company of a team doctor; if it did, when it made the enquiry; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) whether it knows, in the previous four OWGs, (i) the reasons for SF&OC not arranging for any accompanying medical official to provide support for the athletes representing Hong Kong, and (ii) if SF&OC received any requests for the company of a team doctor from the national sports associations, coaches or athletes concerned; if it did, of the reasons for SFOC not acceding to such requests;

(3) of the amounts of funding provided by the authorities to support the Hong Kong delegations to the previous four OWGs, the amounts of various expenditure items (including air tickets, meals, accommodation, local transportation, uniforms and related medical and health assessments) of each of the delegations, and whether the authorities know the itineraries of various members of each of the delegations in the host cities;

(4) given that when the authorities granted funding for the 2014 OWG to SF&OC, one medical official was specifically included in the proposed 13-member Hong Kong delegation, whether they know the reasons for SF&OC not arranging for any accompanying medical official in the end; whether the authorities will take follow-up actions in respect of this situation; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) whether the authorities will, in the light of the aforesaid incident, request SF&OC to conduct a comprehensive review of the mechanism for determining the compositions of Hong Kong delegations to mega international events as well as the operation of such a mechanism, so as to ensure that participating athletes are provided with comprehensive support and that public funds are properly used; if they will, of the details of the review; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

     The Summer Olympic Games and the Olympic Winter Games are international multi-sport events organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Olympic Charter. All participants in Olympic events are required to obtain recognition from the IOC and comply with the charter. One of the fundamental principles of the charter is that the organisation, administration and operation of sport should be governed by an independent sports organisation, which has the responsibility to protect its autonomy from any effects which may make it impossible to comply strictly with the provisions of the charter.

     In Hong Kong, the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) is the sports organisation recognised by the IOC as having the authority to handle matters relating to the participation of the Hong Kong, China delegation in specified international games.

     The Government, by subventing "national sports associations" (NSAs), the SF&OC and the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), supports local sports competitions, training programmes, athletes' participation in international sports events and staff training. As regards participation in international sports events, the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) examines and approves, on an accountable basis, funding applications from NSAs and the SF&OC for preparation for and participation in such events, and monitors their use of public funds.

     My reply to the respective parts of the question is as follows:

(1) According to the SF&OC, once Mr Barton Lui Pan-to, a Hong Kong skating athlete had qualified for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games (OWG), it met the Hong Kong Skating Union (HKSU) on December 4, 2013 to discuss the special needs of the HKSU with respect to participation in the games. At a later meeting held on January 28, 2014, the SF&OC did not receive any formal request from the HKSU for inclusion of a medical official in the delegation. In addition, the SF&OC received a report on a physical check-up on the participating athlete from the HKSU on January 23, 2014, in which a doctor of the Hong Kong Sports Institute certified that the skater was physically fit to participate in the games, and that he had no injuries that would preclude his participation.

(2) According to the SF&OC, all delegations of National or Regional Olympic Committees (NOCs) of a significant size arrange medical officials according to the quota imposed on the number of team officials. If there is sufficient quota for the delegation, the SF&OC would make suitable arrangements. However, when the quota is not sufficient, NOCs have to consider their options and make decisions accordingly. The SF&OC considers past experience, the needs to undertake administration work on the ground and the needs of participating athletes in making suitable arrangements and providing appropriate assistance. According to the SF&OC, for the past four OWG, it has no record of requests from the NSAs, coaches or athletes concerned for a team doctor to be included in the delegation.

(3) We examine comprehensively all funding applications that the SF&OC submits for participation in sports events, including the proposed delegation list, a brief description of duties and responsibilities of each delegation member and other related documents. According to the information provided by the SF&OC, the itinerary of the delegation includes working meetings (delegation meetings and working meetings on individual sports events), practice sessions and competitions, as well as relevant preparatory work.

     The actual funds allocated to the Hong Kong, China delegation to participate in the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 OWG are in Appendix.

(4) The SF&OC submitted an application for funding to HAB, which included funding for one voluntary medical official, based on the estimated number of competing athletes as at last September (the latest estimate was based on a maximum of four athletes competing). The SF&OC learnt in mid-January 2014 that only one athlete had qualified for the OWG, and that the quota for officials had been reduced to five accordingly.

     The SF&OC has full discretion in determining the Hong Kong, China delegation list in accordance with the provisions of the Olympic Charter and the regulations of the games concerned. The Government recognises the SF&OC's authority in determining the Hong Kong, China delegation list in accordance with the situation.

(5) As mentioned above, the SF&OC has full discretion in determining the Hong Kong, China delegation list in accordance with the provisions of the Olympic Charter and the regulations of the games concerned. The Government recognises the SF&OC's authority in determining the Hong Kong, China delegation list. It also recognises that the SF&OC and the relevant NSAs are best placed to assess the necessary level of medical support for a sports event.

     As regards the use of public funds, the participation funding is provided on an accountable basis. The SF&OC must submit a report and the audited account to the Government after the Games. To ensure proper use of public funds, we will keep the relevant monitoring mechanism under review and enhance the arrangements as and when necessary.

Ends/Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:34

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