Leisure and Cultural Services DepartmentLeisure and Cultural Services Department
Subvention Scheme for New Sports
Eligibility Criteria and Application Procedure
Background
Upon completion of the Comprehensive Review of Sports Subvention Scheme (the Review) in 2019, a wide range of recommendations and enhancement measures were launched to help optimise the administration of Sports Subvention Scheme (SSS) and enhance the further development of sports in Hong Kong. As revealed in the Review, overseas countries offered government funding for new sports so that more chances and choices could be provided for members of the public to take part in different sports activities. Under this inspiration, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has introduced a Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports (“Pilot Scheme”) since 2021. Meanwhile, a new funding mechanism, distinct from the existing SSS, was devised to support local sports organisations and promote the development of new sports in Hong Kong, thereby offering more chances and options for members of the public to participate in more sports activities.
To further promote new sports, the LCSD regularised the “Pilot Scheme”, which was renamed the “Subvention Scheme for New Sports” with effect from 2025-26, offering subvention to all eligible sports organisation on an individual project basis. By doing so, the LCSD provides a platform for those sports organisations wishing to promote the long-run development of new sports in Hong Kong.
The “Subvention Scheme for New Sports” is now inviting the new application for subvention in 2026-27 from now until 9 January 2026. Each successful application will be offered a maximum of $200,000 or 85 per cent of the total eligible expenditure of individual activity, whichever is lower. Prospective applicant sports organisations are advised to read the prospectus before completing and submitting application forms. A briefing will be held to introduce the “Subvention Scheme for New Sports” on 23 December 2025 (Tuesday) at 4:00 pm. Please read the prospectus for details.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicant sports organisations 1 wishing to apply for the “Subvention Scheme for New Sports” for 2026-27 must fulfill the following mandatory requirements in Part A and provide necessary supplementary information in Part B:
A. Mandatory Requirements
| 1. | The applicant sports organisation must have successful experience in organising sports development programmes of various levels and types 2 with active participation by the public in the past two years; |
| 2. | The new sport under application must be distinct from those sports /disciplines currently solely governed by national sports associations under the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China3； |
| 3. | The applicant sports organisation must be recognised by and affiliated to the International Federation/ Asian Federation/ Regional Federation / recognised by the General Administration of Sport of China; and |
| 4. | The applicant sports organisation must be a non-profit making organisation 4 with articles of association registered as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). |
B. Supplementary Information
| 1. | To provide a comprehensive long-term development and promotion plan, including:- | |
| a. | organisation of sports development programmes from grassroots level to territory-wide/international competition level; | |
| b. | organisation of sports promotion programmes, including those with mass participation and territory-wide programmes / large scale events at international levels; | |
| c. | nurturing of potential athletes and development of coaches and officials through official training programmes and registration system; and | |
| d. | development of a practicable implementation schedule to foster the development of the sport. | |
| 2. | To provide relevant information on competency in the organisation and arrangement of programmes, including:- | |
| a. | Relevant information on resources in respect of this application, e.g. provision and source of non-LCSD venues and non-governmental funding, and strategic plan for sustainability. Priority will be given to sports to be played at private and/or self-financed/non-LCSD venues; | |
| b. | Relevant information on popularity of the sport involved in this application, such as the number of programmes and participants (elementary training programmes must be included in such an application), and recognition and support from the local community, e.g. joint venture with or funding support from non-governmental organisations and schools, etc.; | |
| c. | Proven records on organisation of the relevant sports programmes in the past three years. | |
| 3. | To put in place governance structure, policies with transparency and accountability, such as Code of Conduct, Procurement Guidelines and Accounting Procedure, etc. and composition of office bearers; | |
| 4. | Priority will be given to the applicant sports organisations with any items in the following: | |
| a. | The International Federation/ Asian Federation / Regional Federation of the applicant sports organisation is a member of International Olympic Committee (IOC)/ Olympic Committee of Asia; | |
| b. | The applicant sports organisation is a member with Observer status of Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC); or | |
| c. | The affiliated Federation of the applicant sports organisation is a member of Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations or Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport but yet to be a member of SF&OC or eligible for applying Sports Subvention Scheme under the LCSD. | |
| 5. | Priority will be given to the sports organisations which have never received subvention from the “Pilot Scheme” or “Subvention Scheme for New Sports”. If the applicant sports organisations have previously received subvention from the “Pilot scheme” or “Subvention Scheme for New Sports”, the LCSD will take into consideration their past performance and records when vetting their applications. | |
Application Procedures
Eligible sports organisations wishing to apply for the “Subvention Scheme for New Sports” (only for those sports events to be held locally) must submit a duly completed application form together with all required documents to the Sports Funding Office at 2/F, Leisure and Cultural Services Headquarters, 1-3 Pai Tau Street, Sha Tin by post or via email at ssns@lcsd.gov.hk by 9 January 2026. For applications by post, the postmark date will be regarded as the date of submission. Late submission will not be entertained.
| Application Prospectus: |  |
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| Application Form: | |
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| Annex I: | |
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| Annex II: | |
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Briefing
A briefing will be held to introduce the “Subvention Scheme for New Sports”, the details of which are as follows:
| Date & Time: | 23 December 2025 (Tuesday) at 4:00 pm |
| Location: | Audio Visual Room, 1/F, Leisure and Cultural Services Headquarters, 1-3 Pai Tau Street, Sha Tin |
| Note: | In case of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above or a Black Rainstorm Signal issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, or “Extreme conditions” after super typhoons announced by the Government two hours before the briefing, the briefing will be cancelled. |
Each applicant organisation may assign two representatives to attend the briefing. The briefing session will be conducted in Cantonese.
Please register by 19 December 2025 (Friday). Details of the contact are as follows:
Office |
Contact Number |
Deadline for Registration |
| Sports Funding Office | 2601 8756 | 19 December 2025 (Friday) |
Application Results
Applicant organisations will be informed of their application results in writing.
In the event that the application is rejected, the decision shall be final and conclusive, against which no appeal mechanism is in place.
Enquiries
For further information, please contact the Sports Funding Office of the LCSD.
| Telephone No.: | 2601 8756 |
| Fax No.: | 2393 8177 |
| Email: | ssns@lcsd.gov.hk |
Remark:
- The term “sports organisations” refers to any organisation with its articles of association specifying the development of sports / promotion of specific sports items as its core business.
- The applicant sports organisation must have successful experience in organising training courses in the past two years.
- Each case will be considered on its individual merits. For example, the status of the applicant organisation in the sport field concerned will be taken into account.
- The applicant sports organisation must stipulate in its articles of association that it is run on a non-profit making basis.