SC 04/07 (For information on 27 April 2007)

SPORTS COMMISSION

Progress Report of the Major Sports Events Committee

INTRODUCTION

This paper reports on the work progress of the Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) since the last meeting of the Sports Commission (SC) held on 18 December 2006.

UPDATED PROGRESS OF WORK

I. Applications for “M” Mark Events Status and Support Packages

2. Since the last SC meeting, the MSEC has received the applications for the following seven events: -

(a) / Standard Chartered Kong Cricket Sixes 2007 submitted by the Cricket Association; (b) Cathay Pacific / Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2007 submitted by the Hong Kong ; (c) Lunar New Year Football Tournament submitted by the Hong Kong Football Association Limited; (d) YONEX-SUNRISE Hong Kong Open Badminton Super Series 2007 submitted by the Hong Kong Badminton Association Limited; (e) The Tour of Hong Kong -- Shanghai submitted by the Hong Kong Cycling Association; (f) 2007 FIVB World Grand Prix submitted by the Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China; and (g) Hong Kong Beach Festival 2007 submitted by the Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China.

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3. For events (a) and (b), applications for “M” Mark event status (without funding support) were approved. For event (c), the application was declined as it was received less than the specified processing time of two months before the event date. As for events (d), (e), (f) and (g) which are to be held from July to December 2007, the applications are being processed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).

II. Use of Communication Media to Promote Sports and Major Events

4. The sports-themed TV series produced by the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) was broadcasted from 26 December 2006 to 13 February 2007 at 7 p.m. on Jade Channel of TVB. It has been viewed widely by the public. The English version of the TV series will be broadcasted from 12 July to 30 August 2007 every Thursday at 7 p.m. on the Pearl Channel of TVB. DVDs will be produced in original Chinese voices with English and Chinese subtitles by June 2007 for wider publicity. The DVDs will be distributed to LCSD's venues and schools for broadcasting and sent to the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), non-government organisations and Home Affairs Department for further promotion.

5. An Evaluation Meeting was conducted on 15 March 2007 to assess the performance of RTHK and the effectiveness of the TV series in promoting sports culture in the community. The meeting concluded that the 1st TV series had served the objective to promote sporting culture in the community through educating the public on Olympism, sports and health and introducing "M" Mark events. Besides, the meeting recommended that RTHK be commissioned to produce the 2008 TV series (2nd series) focusing on major sports events and 2009 series (3rd series) on East Asian Games respectively. At its meeting on 23 March 2007, MSEC agreed to commission RTHK to continue the production of the 2nd and 3rd series for broadcast in 2008 and 2009 respectively. The Secretariat, representatives from Information Services Department and LCSD, and three MSEC Members, namely Mr. Tommy TAM, Mr. Raymond LEUNG and Mr. Wesley WAN, will join the pre-production meetings with RTHK to monitor the progress of the production of these two new series. - 3 -

6. The production cost for the 2nd series of 10 episodes has been confirmed as HK$0.95 million (HK$95,000 for one episode which is the same for the 1st series). The 2nd series to be broadcasted in 2008 will cover three main topics as follows: -

(a) 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games; (b) 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events in Hong Kong; and (c) other major sports events hosted in Hong Kong in 2007.

The programme is tentatively scheduled to be on air during the first half of 2008. Members will be informed of further details in the next progress report.

III. Enhancement Plan for the Core Sponsor Group

7. Since the launching ceremony of the Core Sponsor Group (CSG) on 21 February 2006, 46 corporations have joined the CSG and 12 CSG members have sponsored the approved "M" Mark events. MSEC considered it necessary to enhance the role and involvement of the CSG so that the CSG list would serve as a more useful database or platform to solicit commercial support to sports activities.

8. As endorsed by the MSEC at its meeting on 23 March 2007 via MSEC Paper 4/2007, other than to support "M" Mark events, CSG members would be invited: -

(a) to offer financial assistance and/or scholarships for retired elite athletes to pursue further studies; (b) to offer on-job training and/or job openings for retired elite athletes; and (c) to expand their support to other reputable organisations such as SF&OC to help promote sports development in Hong Kong on all fronts. - 4 -

IV. Review of the “M” Mark System and Support Package

9. As reported to SC via SC Paper 16/06, MSEC would conduct a review on the system by stages as follows: -

(a) collection of the initial views of the MSEC Members by the end of 2006; (b) consultation with stakeholders such as the SF&OC and national sports associations (NSAs); (c) endorsement of the proposed updates to the Application Guidelines by the MSEC Members; (d) MSEC's recommendations of significant changes to the "M" Mark System for SC's endorsement; and (e) announcement of the result of the review.

According to the above plan, MSEC commenced the review with views from MSEC Members received in December 2006. Letters regarding the review of the "M" Mark System and Support Package were also sent to SF&OC and NSAs on 18 January 2007 to seek their views/comments. The Secretariat is now consolidating the views and comments received which will be for MSEC's consideration at its next meeting scheduled for June 2007.

10. At its meeting on 23 March 2007, MSEC agreed that opportunity should be taken to enhance the status of LCSD's Major Local International Events (MLIEs) such as World/Asian Championships with funding source from the Arts and Sport Development Fund (ASDF) which is also the funding source for "M" Mark events. MSEC agreed that MLIEs were also major sports events pitched at a very high standard and hence such MLIEs would be awarded "M" Mark status without funding support starting from 2008. "M" Mark status without funding support would be granted to these MLIEs automatically upon their successful application through LCSD for funding from ASDF. While LCSD would provide a quarterly report on MLIEs to MSEC for reference, MSEC Secretariat will provide the necessary update to SC through the regular progress report accordingly. LCSD will inform the NSAs concerned that once their funding applications for MLIEs are accepted, the "M" Mark status without funding support from MSEC will be granted as well.

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KEY ACTION ITEMS PLANNED AHEAD

11. With reference to the above mentioned progress of work, the key action items that the MSEC would take on board in the coming months include:

(a) continuing the review of the “M” Mark System and Support Package, with a view to finalising the recommendations by the 2nd quarter of 2007; (b) setting up the Advisory Panel and Vetting Panel for this new term of MSEC (from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2008) to help review the "M" Mark System and Support Package, and to promote and implement the refined system; (c) enhancing the role and involvement of the CSG members; (d) preparing for the production of the 2nd and 3rd series of sports-themed TV series for broadcast in 2008 and 2009 respectively to promote a stronger sporting culture in the community; and (e) taking note of progress and discussing specific issues relating to the planning and development of the Multi-purpose Stadium Complex in Kai Tak.

ADVICE SOUGHT

12. Members of SC are invited to note the progress of work and key action items planned of the MSEC as outlined in the paper.

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Major Sports Events Committee Secretariat April 2007