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Lars Hamer

Hong Kong lawmakers and former Olympic athlete turned Cantopop singer Alex Fong Lik-sun met the city’s swimming governing body on Wednesday, hoping to put an end to the row over the exclusion of a promising young athlete.
Fong and lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong put forward five suggestions on how to improve the state of swimming in the city, and a plan for ensuring talent did not get left behind.
Among the proposals was for a change in the club system, ensuring all clubs had access to resources, and a change in eligibility rules across all age groups.
Last week, Fong accused the Hong Kong China Swimming Association (HKGSA) of ignoring future stars after a nine-year-old member of his swimming academy was blocked from racing in certain events.
“Before we kick-started the meeting, Mr Ronnie Wong [president of HKGSA] had already expressed to us that these are the directions that they’re inclined to go with,” Ho, a member of the New People’s Party, said.
“They gladly accepted our suggestions and promised us that they would bring those suggestions to their respective executive committees to discuss.”

Fong was told his young swimmer could not compete because his academy was only a competition member, the lowest of three affiliate rankings with the local governing body.
The first proposal outlined in the document was to open up the eligibility for both open and age-group swimming championships so that all swimmers who meet standards could enter, regardless of the levels of the swimming clubs they belong to.
On Wednesday, the association clarified that Fong’s swimmer and those who meet the qualifying standard would be allowed to compete in the Age Group Swimming Championships.
In regards to swimming clubs, the document called for an extension of the current scoring system to cover all of them, including the “competition member.”
In Hong Kong, clubs can obtain points through competition results, ultimately defining their credibility and status.
Other issues raised were the removal of “zombie” or inactive affiliated clubs, the allocation of resources to clubs at all levels and a review of the structure of the executive committee structures to enhance transparency and credibility.
“Today’s meeting went very well and overall the atmosphere is very good,” Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, vice-president of the Sports Federation & Olympics Committee, said.
“As I have said to the media before, there must be an interest to participate in the competition according to the scores of the results of a particular athlete or all the athletes.”
On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu weighed in on the row and said a “significant amount” of taxpayer money each year was spent on sport, and if areas for improvement were identified they should be approached with a “responsible attitude”.
With that in mind, Fok said that in September the SF&OC would announce corporate governance guidelines to ensure better management of the city’s Nationals Sports Associations (NSAs).
The guidelines outline measures that NSAs should take to ensure the city produced athletes and encouraged participation in sports.
“I would like to reiterate that National Sports Associations are supported by public funds and must ensure good corporate governance,” Fok said.
“The SF&OC oversees 85 NSAs, each with its own operations. These NSAs are also subject to the rules of their respective Asian federations and international federations, so the complexity involved in addressing corporate governance should not be ignored.”


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Swimming

Hong Kong swimming bosses and lawmakers discuss 5-point plan to solve eligibility row

Lawmaker Kenneth Fok (centre) attended the meeting with swimming officials. Photo: Eugene Lee

Two of the city’s young swimmers Li Sum-yiu (left) and Gilaine Ma after the women’s 200m freestyle at the Hong Kong Open Swimming Championships. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong sports bosses reviewing how governing bodies operate, says city’s leader

Chief Executive John Lee wants a ‘responsible attitude’ towards improving sport in Hong Kong. Photo: May Tse

Alex Fong questioned the Hong Kong China Swimming Association’s entry process. Photo: Antony Dickson

Hong Kong swimming boss defends under-fire association over ‘ridiculous’ barring of boy, 9

Hong Kong swimming bosses were told not to “bury the talents” of youngsters aiming to emulate the likes of Siobhan Haughey (pictured). Photo: Handout

Former swimmer Alex Fong called the association’s stance on eligibility “unheard of”. Photo: Dickson Lee

Ronnie Wong, president of the swimming association, said officials “want to be fair”. Photo: Jelly Tse

Sport

Other Sport

Officials gather to discuss row that erupted after 9-year-old was stopped from swimming in age-group race over club affiliation


Officials gather to discuss row that erupted after 9-year-old was stopped from swimming in age-group race over club affiliation.


Siobhan Haughey (何詩蓓)

Hong Kong

John Lee