DAB lawmaker Vincent Cheng on Monday called on the government to offer tax concessions to businesses that sponsor local athletes. Speaking at a press briefing, Cheng, who is also the vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), explained the number of companies sponsoring athletes was limited. “There are a lot of big companies that are really interested to support all the sports events. When we're talking about the marathon, the badminton competition, they do have a title sponsor," he said. "The [number of] companies supporting the athletes [is] not a lot. So, we hope that later on in the future, the government can encourage more companies to support the athletes directly, like supporting their salary or hiring them.” Cheng also urged the government to purchase broadcasting rights for the upcoming National Games of China, the 2026 Asian Games in Japan as well as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He said this would make it easier for residents to follow the competitions, rally behind home-grown athletes and provide a boost to the local catering and retail sectors.
