{
  "id": 649803,
  "title": "Athlete cash incentive renewed ahead of Asian Games",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/athlete-cash-incentive-renewed-ahead-of-asian-games",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-12T09:28:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK English",
    "slug": "rthk-english",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1865908-20260812.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hong Kong has extended its athlete incentive programme, offering cash rewards of up to HK$2 million for exceptional performances at upcoming competitions. The Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, run by the Hong Kong Sports Institute and sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will provide financial support for athletes competing in major multi-sport events such as the Asian Games, Asian Para Games in Japan, the 2027 Winter Universiade, and the 2027 World University Games. The first major event under the scheme will be the Asian Games, taking place from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya. Individual gold medallists will receive HK$1 million, while team gold medallists will earn HK$2 million. The scheme aims to provide practical financial support, validation of training results, and encouragement to athletes and their families. Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey urged young athletes to focus on their training process and enjoy the journey, rather than solely on competition outcomes. Commissioner for Sport George Tsoi highlighted Hong Kong's consistent improvement in recent years, citing the SAR's performance at the Asian Games. He expressed hope that the team would reach new heights in the upcoming competitions. Under the previous phase of the scheme, which ran from 2023 to 2026, over 220 athletes received incentive awards totaling over HK$94.66 million.",
  "summary": "Cash rewards of up to HK$2 million will be offered for outstanding performances under the latest phase of Hong Kong's athlete incentive programme. Organisers confirmed that the latest phase of the scheme will encompass several high-profile competitions, including the Asian Games and Asian Para Games in Japan this year, the 2027 Winter Universiade, the 2027 World University Games, the National…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/649803.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Eogene's giant-killing run vindicates Jonassen's Asian Games gamble",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/eogenes-giant-killing-run-vindicates-jonassens-asian-games-gamble",
        "published": "2026-08-13T07:05:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "S. Korean pentathletes driven to win S. Korea's 1st gold at 2026 Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/s-korean-pentathletes-driven-to-win-s-koreas-1st-gold-at-2026-asian",
        "published": "2026-08-13T08:12:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}