Fostering Collaboration

“Sports and Social Value” Symposium

In 2012, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (The Club) formed a community football partnership with Manchester United (Man Utd), creating value at every social level in the Hong Kong community through the sport and the Man Utd brand effect.

Over the decade, numerous social service and academic groups have also launched creative new programmes designed around football and sports. On the 15th December 2022, the Club and Man Utd have hosted the first “Sports and Social Value” symposium which enabled stakeholders from different sectors to inspire each other. The symposium provided a platform for different organisations to share their experiences, in turn gathering insights and fostering collaboration to promote further development.

Mr Florian Jungbauer, Head of Brand and Digital Marketing Channels, Hong Kong Jockey Club, delivered a speech thanking all participants from different organisations, expressing his hope to work together to create a better society and future.

Mr Florian Jungbauer, Head of Brand and Digital Marketing Channels of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, receives the anniversary jersey from Mr Juvan Wong, Head of Commercial Operations and Strategy, Asia Pacific of the Manchester United under the witness of Mr John Shiels MBE, CEO of the Manchester United Foundation.

Prof Amy Ha Sau-ching, Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Education, CUHK gave an online demonstration of how technology and data analysis can be used to enhance the physical development of local kids. This includes the use of wrist bands to record the students’ daily exercise, automated assessment of basic motor skills to help users continue to improve, and mobile apps to help parents understand students' sports performance. Technologies like these can be applied to the planning of more programmes that create social benefits.

Dr Lobo Louie (middle), Programme Consultant of the Active Ageing Elderly Football Programme, and Mr Chan Ping-on (right), Instructor in the same programme, shared a lively exchange on how the Mesozoic generation can rediscover the fun of football and keep pace with the times; on the left is Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Corporate Branding Executive Manager (Sports and Community Programme) Mr Li Tak-nang, who served as the host of the Symposium.

The symposium attracted some 80 audience from 28 organisations to join physically while over 80,000 audiences watched the live through our social media platforms. It is pleasant to have you to participate in the event while expanding connections and exploring collaborative opportunities.

Mr Ng Wai-tung, Vice-Chairman of Executive Committee of Street Soccer Hong Kong, showed the transformation of various homeless players before and after joining the team, explaining how football can change lives. He also expressed his hope for Hong Kong to host the Homeless World Cup in the future.

Ms Apple Tse, Deputy Director (Youth & Social Rehabilitation) of Hong Kong Christian Service, and Ms Tina Wong, Consultant of the Jockey Club SportsEXPLORE Programme, said that the programme can help its young participants learn more about the development of the sports industry and find ways to turn their interest into future careers.

Starting a new chapter partnership, the Club and Man Utd will continue to join hands with different stakeholders, using football as a medium to nurturing the next generation and talents from different aspect to put their best foot forward, and creating a stronger community together.

Participants responded enthusiastically to the fruitful sessions at the Symposium.

Guests celebrate the decade-long collaboration between the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Manchester United together at the Symposium.

Watch the replay of the programme on JC Youth Football Development Facebook or YouTube now!