Vivian Kong urges elite sports upgrade to boost Hong Kong's soft power
Lawmaker and former Olympic fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai has called for an optimised elite sports training system, saying athletes are Hong Kong's best advertisement for soft power. Ahead of a Legco debate, she outlined four goals including talent pipelines, sports science, GBA cooperation and interna
An optimised elite sports training system would sharpen Hong Kong athletes' competitive edge and serve as the city's strongest soft-power showcase on the global stage, athlete-turned-lawmaker Vivian Kong Man-wai has said.
Her remarks came ahead of a Legislative Council debate on Wednesday on a motion to improve elite sports training and support systems, following Hong Kong's historic 54-medal haul at the 20th Asian Games. In an interview with Sing Tao Daily, the sister publication of The Standard, the former Olympic fencing gold medallist expressed strong backing for sustained advancements in athlete development and institutional support.
"Athletes competing for the city are, in fact, the best advertisement for its ability to nurture sports talent and for its soft power," she said. Kong explained that athletes' performances on the international stage directly raise Hong Kong's global profile and strengthen residents' sense of belonging and pride.
She laid out four goals for elite sports training, including producing top athletes to lift Hong Kong's standing in world sports and showcasing its talent-nurturing strength. Elite athletes, she added, can inspire young people to take up sports, drive mass participation and build social cohesion and pride.
With elite sports as the anchor, Kong said Hong Kong can promote community sports, remain a hub for major international events, raise professionalism and build sports as an industry, improving athletes' post-retirement pathways and creating a sustainable talent cycle.
Addressing resource allocation, she noted that elite sports funding has traditionally focused on maximising returns by investing primarily in competitors and disciplines with the highest probability of securing major international medals. She urged authorities to expand this approach comprehensively by advancing talent pipelines, sports science research, venue infrastructure, Greater Bay Area cooperation and global sporting influence in tandem.
Kong placed special emphasis on early talent scouting and dual-track educational pathways that balance rigorous training with academic study, ensuring full-time athletic careers remain a viable and secure choice for young talent. To modernise training regimens, she recommended deeper integration of sports science, including biomechanical analysis, physiological tracking, tailored nutritional planning and psychological counselling.
She also called on the government to pursue bids for major international competitions and implement a hybrid training model combining domestic facilities with overseas training camps. She recommended exploring training bases with Greater Bay Area cities to create more competition and exchange opportunities, and urged the government to court international sports bodies into opening regional headquarters or offices in Hong Kong to nurture local talent as committee members and referees, giving the city more say over competition rules, resources and major-event bids.