Eligibility Criteria and Application Procedure

Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports

Background

Upon completion of the Comprehensive Review of Sports Subvention Scheme (the Review) in 2019, a wide range of recommendations and enhancement measures has been launched to help optimise the administration of Sports Subvention Scheme (SSS) and enhance the further development of sports in Hong Kong. As revealed in the Review, overseas countries offered government funding for new sports so that more opportunity and choices could be provided for members of the public to take part in different sports activities. Under this inspiration, LCSD introduces a Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports and a new funding mechanism, apart from the existing SSS, was devised to promote and support the development of new sports in Hong Kong.

The pilot scheme is now inviting the new application for subvention in 2023-24 from now until 3 March 2023. Each successful application will be offered a maximum of $150,000 or 85 per cent of the total eligible expenditure of individual activity, whichever is lower. Please read the prospectus and submit application if you are interested. A briefing will be held to introduce the Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports on 13 February 2023 (Monday) at 4 pm. Please read the prospectus for details.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant sports organisations¹ wishing to apply for the “Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports” for 2023-24 must fulfill the following mandatory requirements in Part A and provide supplementary information in Part B:

A. Mandatory Requirements

1.	The applicant sports organisation must have successful experience in organising sports development programmes of various levels and types2 with active participation by the public in the past two years;
2.	The new sport under application must be distinct from those sports / disciplines currently solely governed by national sports associations under the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China3；
3.	The applicant sports organisation must be recognised by and affiliated to the Asian Federation/Regional Federation/ International Federation; and
4.	The applicant sports organisation must be a non-profit making organisation4 with articles of association registered as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622).

B. Supplementary Information

1.	To provide a comprehensive long-term development and promotion plan, including:-
	a.	organisation of sports development programmes from grassroots level to territory-wide/international competition level;
	b.	organisation of sports promotion programmes, including those with mass participation and cross-district programmes / large scale events at international levels;
	c.	nurturing of potential athletes and development of coaches and officials through official training programmes and registration system; and
	d.	development of a practicable implementation schedule to foster the development of the sport.
2.	To provide relevant information on competency in the organisation and arrangement of programmes, including:-
	a.	Relevant information on resources in respect of this application, e.g. provision and source of non-Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) venues and non-governmental funding, and strategic plan for sustainability. Priority will be given to sports to be played at private and/or self-financed/non-LCSD venues;
	b.	Relevant information on popularity of the sport involved in this application, such as the number of programmes and participants, and recognition and support from the local community, e.g. joint venture with or funding support from non-governmental organisations and schools, etc.;
	c.	Proven records on organisation of the relevant sports programmes in the past three years.
3.	To put in place governance structure, policies with transparency and accountability, such as Code of Conduct, Procurement Guidelines and Accounting Procedure, etc. and composition of office bearers;
4.	Priority will be given to the applicant sports organisations with any items in the following:
	a.	The Asian Federation/Regional Federation/ International Federation of the applicant sports organisation is a member of Olympic Committee of Asia/International Olympic Committee;
	b.	The applicant sports organisation is a member with Observer status of Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC); or
	c.	The affiliated Federation of the applicant sports organisation is a member of Global Association of International Sports Federations but yet to be a member of SF&OC or eligible for applying Sports Subvention Scheme under the LCSD.
5.	Priority will be given to new applicant sports organisations. As for re-applicant sports organisations, the LCSD will take into consideration their past performance and records when vetting their applications.

Application Procedures

Eligible sports organisations who wish to apply for the Pilot scheme on Subvention for New Sports (only for sports events to be held locally) shall submit a duly completed application form together with all required documents to the Sports Funding Office at 2/F, Leisure and Cultural Services Headquarters, 1-3 Pai Tau Street, Sha Tin by mail or via email (sns@lcsd.gov.hk) on or before 3 March 2023. For applications by post, the postmark date will be regarded as the date of submission. Late applications will not be entertained.

Application Prospectus
Application Form
Annex I :
Annex II :

Briefing

• A briefing will be held to introduce the Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports. Details are as follows:

Date & Time:	13 February 2023 (Monday) at 4 pm
Location:	Audio Visual Room, 1/F, Leisure and Cultural Services Headquarters, 1-3 Pai Tau Street, Sha Tin, New Territories
Note:	In case of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above or a Black Rainstorm Signal issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, or “Extreme conditions” after super typhoons announced by the Government two hours before the briefing, the briefing will be cancelled.

• Each applicant organisation may assign one representative to join the briefing. The briefing session will be conducted in Cantonese.
• Please register by 9 February 2023 (Thursday). Details of the contact are as follows:

Office	Contact Number	Deadline for Registration
Sports Funding Office	2601 8756	9 February 2023 (Thursday)

Application Results

• Applicant organisations will be informed of their application results in writing.
• In the event that the application is rejected, the decision shall be final and conclusive, against which no appeal mechanism is in place.

List of sports organisations being subvented (as at December 2022)

Enquiry

For further information, please contact the Sports Funding Office of the LCSD.
Telephone No.	: 2601 8756
Fax No.	: 2393 8177
Email	: sns@lcsd.gov.hk

Remark:

1. The term “sports organisations” refers to any organisation with its articles of association specifying the development of sports / promotion of specific sports items as its core business.
2. The applicant sports organisation must have successful experience in organising training courses in the past two years.
3. Each case would be considered on its individual merits (for example, the status of the applying organisation of the sport).
4. The applicant sports organisation must stipulate in its articles of association that it itself is run on a non-profit making basis.