Believe and Bounce

As an ardent sports fan, Jessie was excited to hear about the new Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme to make the sport more accessible to students and the underprivileged. Announced on 13 September, this three-year scheme is backed by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with an approved donation of HK$70.75 million. It is being co-run by InspiringHK Sports Foundation, The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

The programme comprises three main elements. It will provide tailor-made basketball training for those aged five to 24, ranging from introductory courses to skills-focused district training sessions run by coaches from the East Asia Super League; it will offer capacity-building courses and workshops; and it will feature a series of events including basketball-themed challenge days and carnivals to help the sport develop in Hong Kong. Overall, the programme is expected to benefit more than 32,000 people, including over 660 coaches.

The Club has long been dedicated to sports development in Hong Kong, investing both in facilities and programmes to promote sport at all levels – from grass-roots to elite athletes, and from kindergarten children to senior citizens. Jessie is hopeful this new programme will nurture future basketball stars and inspire a love of the game for young people.

But that’s not all. At the programme launch ceremony the Club’s CEO, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, announced more good news. He said the Club wants to do even more to promote sport and will double its funding for sports development. The Club plans to spend HK$3 billion on sports and sports development over the next three years. It comes after the Club’s Charities Trust has already contributed more than HK$6.6 billion to support sports development at both elite and community levels over the last 10 years. Jessie sees that as a slam dunk for Hong Kong.