Jockey Club SportsEXPLORE Project Award Presentation and BOSS Graduation Ceremony

Date: 11/03/2023

Helping 70 Youngsters to Explore Sports Careers, Injecting New Blood into Sports Industry

The ‘Jockey Club SportsEXPLORE Project’ (the Project), run by the Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS), held the Award Presentation and BOSS Graduation Ceremony at the ‘TKO Spot-field’, TKO Spot in Tseung Kwan O today. Over 70 young people were honoured for their active participation in the project, exploring and achieving the objective of 'Sports as a Career'. The ceremony was officiated by Mr Wallace LAU, JP, Commissioner for Youth of Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, Ms Apple TSE, Deputy Director (Youth & Social Rehabilitation) of HKCS, Ms Donna TANG, Executive Manager, Charities (Sports and Culture) of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), Mr Vincent CHENG, MH, JP, Legislative Council Member, and Professor LUI Tai Lok, JP, Director of the Academy of Hong Kong Studies. High jumper Ms Cecilia YEUNG, cyclist Ms Jenny MA, basketball player Mr SO Yi Chun, and karate player Mr Jimmy LEE also joined the 'All-star Gamify Sports Challenge' with our guests and project participants to experience 'gamified sports' and promote the diverse career opportunities in Hong Kong sports industry.

Young people become ‘BOSS’ of their lives and achieve a career in sports

Since 2021, the Project has held three terms of ‘We Are the BOSS - Youth Sports Careers Life Development Journey’. Through practitioner exchanges, workplace visits and internships, the Project has broadened the horizons of young participants about the sports industry, letting their career development break through the traditional framework to become the ‘BOSS’ of their own lives. At the ceremony, the ‘BOSSes’ shared their experiences on how the Project has changed their career development. Tommy, a 24-year-old participant of the 2nd term, was previously a slash, who had been working as a Dodgebee coach and in several part-time jobs. During COVID-19, his income was unstable and at one point he questioned his career direction. After participating in the Project's career life development journey, he found his ideal ‘Vocational Interest Patterns’ and realised that even with a full-time job, he could hold sports interest classes in his spare time to pursue his love of teaching. He has now decided to look for a full-time job to provide him with a stable income while allowing him to develop his interests in his spare time.

Cleo, a 24-year-old participant of the 3rd term, originally only wanted to be a physical education teacher and has recently applied for an education diploma programme but was not accepted. Now, through the Project, she has learned more about different sports industries and is interested in exploring other sports-related job opportunities. Curry, a 19-year-old participant from the same term, is not interested in the aeronautical engineering course she is currently studying. She said, ‘The Project has strengthened my confidence and given me the courage to explore a career in sports, so I am planning to change to a sports-related course.’

Cross-sectoral support for youth career development

‘Jockey Club SportsEXPLORE Project’ values cross-sectoral collaboration and has successfully linked the social welfare, education, and business sectors. It has collaborated with various companies and organisations to provide opportunities for workplace visits and internships, such as visiting the Asia Pacific headquarters of FC Barcelona, visiting Decathlon sport equipment center, and interning at 24/7 Fitness, etc. These experiences broaden the participants' self-awareness and understanding of the workplace, helping them to make wiser decisions when planning their future careers. Representatives from the HKJC Apprentice Jockeys’ School, La Liga Football Schools, Decathlon, China Hong Kong Lacrosse Association, The Hong Kong Award for Young People, and Sham Shui Po District Health Centre attended the ceremony and interacted with the young participants.

Ms Apple TSE, Deputy Director (Youth & Social Rehabilitation) of HKCS, said, ‘Sport can both strengthen the body and provide diversified career development. I sincerely thank the support of partners from all different sectors in giving young people the opportunity to develop a sports career. I also want to thank the young BOSSes. They have the courage to explore unknown fields, to realise their sports dreams, and their experience inspires other young people to take charge of their own lives and pursue their dreams.’

Promoting gamified sports with Athlete’s sharing on diverse career opportunities

‘Jockey Club SportsEXPLORE Project’ also promotes ‘gamified sports’. In an earlier survey, 90% of the participants said that ‘(the Project's) activities have made me love sport, and I will continue to exercise in my daily life.’ They also pointed out that combining sports with games can bring more fun. Therefore, the Project announced the launch of an original card game called ‘SportsEXPLORE Game Card’ at the ceremony. In addition to competing with wits and strength, the game can also help the participants to understand elements of physical fitness and improve their cooperation and reaction skills. The Project hopes to use an interesting card game as a starting point to motivate the public to develop a good habit of continuous exercise. The card game is suitable for people aged five or above and will be distributed for free to the public at future activities organised by the Project.

After the ceremony, the ‘All-star Gamify Sports Challenge’ was held, allowing guests, athletes, and project participants to experience ‘SportsEXPLORE Game Card’ and participate in various ‘gamified sports’ with fun and joy. Ms Cecilia YEUNG, a renowned high jumper, said that ‘gamified sports’ are suitable for people of all ages and encouraged everyone to experience the fun of exercise. She also shared her experience in establishing her own brand to encourage young people who want to join the sports industry, saying that ‘young people have many possibilities and opportunities for different careers, and athletes can also be entrepreneurs.’

In April 2021, HKCS launched the ‘Jockey Club SportsEXPLORE Project’ (the Project), a three-year project funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, to promote community fun-based sports and sports careers for youth through ‘SPORTS AS A GAME, SPORTS AS A LIFE SKILL, SPORTS AS A CAREER’. Over the years, HKJC have promoted community-based and elite sports through various means, enabling people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the fun of sports.

Project Website：https://www.hkcs.org/services/SportsEXPLORE

For media enquiries, please contact：

Mr Don CHENG, Corporate Communication Executive (Information) (Tel: 2731 6263）