Gloria Chan Hok-yan (2nd right) passes by Wanchai Tower. She has been sentenced to 15 month in imprisonment by the District Court on Jan 14, 2011. Provided to China Daily

For many young people, pursuing a career in sports in Hong Kong sets them on a road to low future employment prospects and possibly poverty. At last, joint efforts are underway to improve those prospects but observers of the local sports scene say more needs to be done. Ming Yeung reports.

Gloria Chan Hok-yan's blackmail case shocked the city, not only because of the circumstances of the case but the inconvenient truth that retired athletes are desperate to make money even to the point of breaking the law.

Chan, 27, blackmailed a wealthy 72-year-old businessman identified only as X, demanding HK$3 million in exchange for a video of the couple having sex. She later admitted that there was no sex video. On Jan 14 Chan was sentenced to 15-month imprisonment.

Chan came to know X working at a restaurant he frequented in 2005. He became her "sugar daddy" not long after. Their relationship soured over time and Chan found that X constantly avoided her.

The public followed Chan's case like a soap opera but few actually gave consideration to the reasons behind it.

Chan is a former Asian Games boat rower. She was 15 when she competed in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, finishing the fourth. She obtained fairly good results in some international competitions as well.

She officially retired in 2001, at 18. Not surprisingly, she could not find a well-paid job and found herself stranded in poverty as a result of her lack of proper academic qualification. Therefore, a comfortable life offered by X was irresistible and that ultimately set her on her own path of no return.

Lee Kin-wo, 43, is one of the most famous football players. He encouraged young athletes to have clear visions of what they want to do after retiring from sports long before they step out of the clubhouse for the last time.

As the head coach of Hong Kong's football team, he said becoming a coach was the result of his determination and endeavor. "Chances do not grow on trees. Wanting to be something and striving to be something are two different things," Lee said.

Lee took coaching courses and volunteered as a coach for some football clubs before attaining the head coach post of Hong Kong national football team.

Retired athletes, in Lee's perspective, are a special group because they are not educated and well-skilled. "For those who want to make quick money after retirement, they will be more likely to become truck drivers or other coolie-related jobs," Lee said.

"Our (Hong Kong) government, as always, requires accomplishments before giving assistance to athletes. If there is no sufficient support, how can we achieve good results?" Lee asked. "The officials think the other way round."

Are there countless retired athletes struggling with joblessness and poverty right now? The situation may be misinterpreted by the public in terms of salary, said Lobo Louie, an associate professor at the Physical Education Department at the Baptist University.

"Earning a monthly stipend of HK$10,000 sounds pathetic. What if all other expenses are being taken care of and that HK$10,000 is the amount they keep in their own pockets?"

Unlike on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong athletes are not so closely tied to the government. "But the government needs to assure retired athletes good lives with a comprehensive system, instead of giving them large amounts of rewards," Louie said.

The system, in Louie's point of view, is providing them scholarships and places to pursue further studies. "The institutes do not need to guarantee their graduations but at least give them platform to build another life upon."

"Hurdles King" Henry Tang Hon-sing, who is Hong Kong's record holder in the men's 110 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles, agrees with Louie that money is not a "cure-all" and education is vital. But how to educate different athletes is the key.

"Simply put, a system cannot suit all kinds of sports. Take swimming and athletics as examples. Athletic players require a mature and strong body before hard-core training but swimmers start from a very early age. We have to take care of specific needs of each kind of athlete," Tang noted.

It is commonly believed that the lack of proper education and brighter prospects for professional athletes beyond retirement had deterred parents from encouraging their children to pursue careers in sports.

Therefore, "having a comprehensive policy for retired athletes is crucial for encouraging young aspiring boys and girls whose dream is to pursue a career in sport," said Tang, who now works at the Watsons Athletic Club as a coach.

Tang also suggested the government take initiatives to hire retired athletes, especially the injured ones, and give them on-the-job training. "They can handle clerical works and venue management duties. If they're interested, they can continue to study in a particular field," Tang said.

It appears the government has begun to pay attention to the plight of retired athletes, after much being heaped with much criticism.

According to Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) figures, 16 athletes recommended by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) or the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) were accepted to University Grants Committee-funded (UGC-funded) education programs in 2010.

In 2008, 13 elite athletes were admitted to UGC-funded institutions and on the recommendation of HKSI or SF&OC. In 2009, 19 were admitted.

The spokeswoman for HAB responded that it was working out a comprehensive athlete retirement plan in collaboration with SF&OC. The plan was being followed up with the eight UGC-funded institutions in respect to measures facilitating retired athletes pursuing higher education in Hong Kong. However, no specific time frame was given.

The newly redeveloped HKSI will provide ample space and facilities for full-time athletes to pursue part-time educational opportunities.

Since 2008, the HKSI has offered Enhanced Athletes Educational and Vocational Development Programmes, which provide support services such as educational and vocational workshops and exchange programs. The institute also offers tailor-made coaches training programs through the Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Programme. That also helps to expand job options for elite athletes after retirement and ensures the sufficient numbers of coaches to support sports development at all levels.

The Hong Kong Athletes Career & Education Programme (HKACEP) was officially launched in 2008 by the SF&OC and the HAB. The program has since helped 160 athletes from 36 national sports associations in terms of careers, education and skills trainings.

"An imperative for new sports policy is that it must be combined with education. Young athletes do not need money, they need qualifications," Tang said. "Athletes have a common characteristic: never give up. If they have the chance to study, I am sure they will try their best to catch up and study hard."

"Hurdles King" Henry Tang Hon-sing, who is Hong Kong record holder of men's 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles, now works at the Watsons Athletic Club as a coach. Edmond Tang / China Daily

Hong Kong football team members leave the field after losing a friendly game with 0-2 against Malaysia at a stadium on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on Feb 9, 2011. Saeed Khan / AFP

(HK Edition 02/16/2011 page4)