Financial boost likely for Hong Kong showpiece golf and tennis opens
The events are expected to get a windfall from the revamped Mega Events Fund to help attract high-profile stars
Golf and tennis are in line to receive millions of dollars in funding from the revamped Mega Events Fund (MEF) for each sport's showpiece tournaments later this year, a top government official said.
The Hong Kong Opens in both golf and tennis have been rebuffed by the government-run MEF in the last few years but it is understood both sports will be given the nod when the latest round of applications are vetted.
"I know that both sports have asked for significant sums of money for their events and their applications are likely to be successful, especially tennis which is being regarded very favourably," said a senior government official close to the process who wished to remain unnamed.
I know that both sports have asked for significant sums of money for their events and their applications are likely to be successful, especially tennis which is being regarded very favourably
Tennis officials applied for HK$8 million in a bid to lure some of the leading names in professional tennis like Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard. Golf administrators refused to reveal what they had asked for.
Emily Mo, secretary of the MEF assessment committee, said: "We are processing the applications under the current round of applications under the MEF tier-2 scheme. Applicants will be notified of the results within three or four months of deadline for this current round."
The deadline for this round was January 9. The MEF refused to reveal which sports had applied for funding, but both golf and tennis confirmed that they had put in applications.
The Hong Kong Tennis Open at Victoria Park, a WTA event, was first played last September. At that time, the MEF refused to back the return of professional tennis to the city after more than a decade-long break. But it is now understood there has been a shift in policy since a comprehensive review of the system after the Audit Commission had blasted the Tourism Commission for ineptitude in running the fund.
