$6 million cash awards for Olympic gold medalists, 20 pc increase

The cash incentives for Hong Kong athletes who win gold at the Olympics will be increased to HK$6 million, with 35 elites set to head to the Paris Games later this month.

That would be a 20 percent increase in the award money, comparing to the HK$5 million prize in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Silver and bronze medalists would win HK$3 million and HK$1.5 million, respectively, HK$500,000 more than the 2020 Games cash incentives.

Team gold medalists will be rewarded HK$12 million, up from HK$10 million.

The announcement was made during Tuesday's flag presentation ceremony at Central Government Offices for the 35 Hong Kong athletes competing at the Paris Olympics. 

The delegation includes fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long and swimmer Siobhán Haughey, who won one gold medal and two silver medals in the Tokyo Olympics.

The first local athlete to take the stage at the Paris Olympics will be Vivian Kong Man-wai at the Ladies Épée at 4 pm Hong Kong time on July 27.