Explanation: How much do Hong Kong athletes and para-athletes earn?

Hong Kong's athletes made history at the Paris Olympics and were hailed as “heroes” by CEO John Lee, but their achievements on the international stage have also drawn attention to their earnings and cast doubt on the potential of the city's sporting talent.

Professional athletes training at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) receive a monthly subsidy in addition to board and lodging, as well as non-financial support for training programmes, coaching, sports science and medical support, and athlete development.

A full-time athlete eligible for the government's Elite Training Grant (ETG) receives a salary ranging from HK$7,130 to HK$44,500 per month depending on performance in international competitions.

Fencer Ryan Choi, who reached the last 16 of the men's foil event at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, sparked controversy this week after posting on social media a breakdown of the annual expenses of an athlete living on the smallest monthly stipend.

According to Choi, after taking into account the cost of participating in overseas competitions (a prerequisite for receiving the grant), an athlete receiving the subsidy would only have HK$30,260 per year, provided they do not spend the money on eating out.

While other athletes have weighed in on their earnings, Tony Choi, chief executive of HKSI, said this week that a review of funding schemes for top athletes would be carried out in the hope that a revamped system would be in place by April next year.

How much do Hong Kong athletes earn?

While Olympic medallists such as fencers Vivian Kong and Edgar Cheung and swimmer Siobhan Haughey earn HK$44,500 a month, most professional athletes in the city earn less.

Athletes competing in Tier A sports receive an ETG from HKSI. There are currently 20 such sports, including those on the Olympic calendar (including athletics, badminton, fencing, swimming and table tennis) and those featured at the Asian Games (such as squash and wushu).

Athletes competing in nine other sports, including football and eSports, under the Individual Athlete Support Program are also eligible to receive ETG.

A smaller monthly training grant is available to Paralympians competing in sports featured in the Paralympic Games or Asian Paralympic Games. Twenty-three Paralympians from Hong Kong are set to compete in the Paris Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8.

The size of an athlete's grant is determined by their performance in international competitions. For example, an athlete who places between fourth and eighth at the Olympics will receive HK$32,730 per month.

Those who qualify for the Olympics but do not place in the top two-thirds at the Games receive HK$11,520 per month.

An initial grant of HK$7,130 is available to 'senior team' athletes who must place in the top two-thirds of an international senior competition in their respective sport.

Part-time athletes receive approximately a third of the grant paid to their full-time colleagues.

HKSI does not provide a breakdown of the number of athletes by ETG category. According to a document submitted to the legislature, the government has allocated HK$268 million to fund 1,225 Category A athletes this year.

In addition, athletes who win medals at the Paris Games are rewarded through the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Athlete Incentive Scheme. The Olympic and Paralympic gold medalists receive HK$6 million and HK$1.5 million respectively.

A silver medal at the Olympic and Paralympic Games earns a reward of HK$3 million and HK$750,000 respectively, while a bronze medal earns HK$1.5 million and HK$375,000 respectively.

Income or pocket money?

While ETG is the main source of income for Hong Kong athletes, a senior sports official said the monthly subsidy should be considered “pocket money” given the non-financial support provided by HKSI.

Edgar Yang, honorary secretary general of the city's sports federation and Olympic committee, said in a television interview earlier this month that the ETG is “not that high” compared to the average monthly wage in Hong Kong, which is about HK$19,800.

“But all the support [athletes] obtain amounts that constitute very large investments. [The HKSI] “It covers tuition, medical care, living expenses,” Yang said in Cantonese. “Strictly speaking, they don't need to spend that much.”

Ian added: “The treatment [the ETG] as pocket money… or as a scholarship, they should be able to comfortably play sports and excel at HKSI.”

Jan's comments have prompted many current and former athletes to speak out about the financial difficulties they face on the lowest grants and how it can hinder their athletic careers.

Badminton player Lee Cheuk-Yoo, who competed in the group stage of the Paris Games, told Commercial Radio that many young and talented players were forced to give up their professional careers due to low income.

Mr Li, 27, said the monthly subsidy of about HK$7,000 would be considered “pocket money” if he were 16, but not when he grows up.

“How [athletes] “When they get older, they naturally want to have a normal salary,” he said in Cantonese. “It doesn't mean you can't live on [HK$7,000]but it can be distracting and take your attention away from your workout.”

Fencer Cedric Ho, 28, who was making his Olympic debut in Paris, said he had to tighten his belt after turning professional in 2014. Speaking on the same Commercial Radio programme, Ho said he had to be picky when it came to competing overseas.

“Traveling to Europe for the competition was not cheap, so I may have to choose [overseas] competitions that were closer in distance or had greater significance,” he said in Cantonese.

Former triathlete Leanne Szeto, who also became a full-time athlete in 2014, told the same Commercial Radio programme that it was rare for new athletes to achieve high results in international competitions, adding that they had to be careful about how they spent their entry-level grants.

“It was quite a burden for me to change my running clothes or buy new sneakers as I didn’t have any brand subsidies,” Szeto said in Cantonese about the time she, 24, received about HK$6,000.

Szeto eventually switched gears and joined the airline industry, but continued to compete internationally. She said she would “definitely invest a few more years” if her monthly stipend as an athlete matched her new job’s salary.

The former athlete added that a monthly income of around HK$20,000 would be more attractive to potential professionals: “A full-time athlete could train up to 30 hours a week, which is essentially the same amount of time as my job, but it was also physically demanding.”

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