The Sports Governance and Integrity Alliance and the upcoming Jockey Club HKCGI Sports Governance Programme signal a new era of collaboration – where integrity, accountability and professionalism become the foundation for lasting reform in sports governance.

From principles to practice

As the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC)’s Code of Governance for national sports associations (NSAs) takes effect, the challenge now is to ensure that reforms translate into sustainable systems, rather than just short-term compliance.

The Institute sees this as an opportunity to demonstrate the broader social value of governance professionals. The new Sports Governance and Integrity Alliance, launched on 28 August 2025, represents a shared commitment by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the SF&OC, The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Institute to elevate the integrity, transparency and professionalism of Hong Kong’s sporting ecosystem.

The Sports Governance and Integrity Alliance acts as a unifying platform to promote good practice and resource sharing, bringing together the three core elements of integrity, governance and sport. By embedding ethics and transparency into decision-making, sports organisations can build resilience against crises and enhance their international reputation. This translates directly into better outcomes, fewer disputes, stronger sponsorships and a more credible sports ecosystem.

The Alliance also brings together stakeholders from across government, sport and civil society in a coordinated effort to raise standards. Under the Alliance, the Institute is contributing its governance expertise to the development of guidelines, training and public education campaigns.

Dr Lobo Louie, Senior Lecturer, Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, called the Alliance ‘a long-awaited bridge between ethics, compliance and sport’. He believes it will play a pivotal role in preventing misconduct and building public confidence, especially as Hong Kong hosts more international events and attracts sponsorships.

Building competence

As sports bodies adopt more formal governance frameworks, the expertise of company secretaries and governance professionals is becoming indispensable to ensuring accountability and trust in a field once defined by autonomy and tradition. In the first quarter of 2026, the Institute will launch the Jockey Club HKCGI Sports Governance Programme. Supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the initiative will begin with an 18-hour Sports Governance Certification Course, the first structured programme of its kind in Hong Kong dedicated to equipping NSAs and sports administrators with governance expertise.

The course is part of a long-term strategy to institutionalise governance standards across the sports ecosystem. It aims to build a pool of qualified professionals who understand not only compliance requirements but also the ethical, managerial and cultural dimensions of good governance.

The structure of the course reflects the challenges currently facing the sports sector. Topics will include the fundamentals of board governance, risk management, integrity and anti-corruption measures, as well as financial oversight and stakeholder engagement. The curriculum also emphasises the softer aspects of governance – ethical leadership, decision-making transparency, diversity and athlete welfare.

Participants will be drawn from a wide range of sports bodies – from large, government-funded associations to smaller, volunteer-run clubs. This diversity is deliberate. By bringing these organisations together under one programme, a platform for shared learning and collective progress will be created.

Gill Meller FCG HKFCG(PE), International Vice President and Institute Past President, and Legal and Governance Director, MTR Corporation Ltd, views this initiative as a crucial step toward building Hong Kong’s governance capacity in sport. ‘The Sports Governance Certification Course will provide practical advice to NSAs to enable them to understand why good governance is so important and how to go about designing and implementing an appropriate governance framework,’ she explained.

The road to an academy

While the Certification Course represents an immediate step forward, the Institute’s long-term vision is the establishment of a Sports Governance Academy – a permanent institution devoted to education, research and knowledge exchange in the field. The model draws inspiration from the UK’s Sports Governance Academy, a unique partnership between The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland and Sport England, which combines online learning resources, workshops and a professional community forum.

‘The UK’s Sports Governance Academy’s success lies in its multilayered approach,’ Ms Meller clarified. ‘It provides training, certification and a community, but equally important is its strategic relationship with key bodies such as UK Sport and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. That connection ensures that governance excellence is not just recognised but rewarded.’

The Institute envisions a similar ecosystem for Hong Kong, one where governance education is linked to funding eligibility, accreditation and recognition. ‘Having such an academy in Hong Kong will help nurture a community of individuals involved or interested in sports governance with a view to sharing best practice and supporting each other along the journey,’ Ms Meller affirmed.

Investing in professionalisation

Dr Louie described the Institute’s new initiatives as capacity-building investments in the future of sport. ‘Many NSA leaders are former athletes or volunteers who, while passionate, may lack formal training in finance, governance or ethics,’ Dr Louie pointed out. ‘Ensuring that certification in sports governance is available, if not essential, signals a genuine commitment to reform. NSAs that require their board members and senior staff to be certified can use this as a public signal of their commitment to reform, helping to rebuild trust with the public, as well as with sponsors and fans.’

Dr Louie believes that embedding professional governance practices will help attract sponsors, reassure government partners and enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as an emerging sports hub. Sponsors and fans need to see that decisions are made fairly and that the system rewards merit, not favouritism. ‘Transparency and accountability are key to trust,’ he stressed.

From classroom to playing field

The Institute’s initiatives are not confined to the boardroom, instead they seek to bridge the gap between administrative governance and on-the-ground impact. That connection is exemplified by Simmi Chan, Hong Kong’s top-ranked squash player and the Institute’s newly appointed Sports Governance Ambassador.

For Ms Chan, governance directly affects how athletes experience fairness, motivation and trust. ‘Transparency is the top priority,’ she asserted. ‘While general guidelines for selection and resource allocation do exist, they’re not always clearly defined, which can sometimes lead to confusion or even controversy.’

Ms Chan believes that establishing clear, predisclosed selection criteria and regular performance evaluations is critical to maintaining athletes’ confidence. ‘When athletes fully understand the assessment standards and know that selections are based strictly on performance within the stated timeframe, trust and motivation naturally follow. Regular performance evaluations can further strengthen transparency by offering ongoing feedback. This assures athletes that decisions are consistent, merit-based and impartial, maintaining long-term motivation and trust.’

Her own journey – balancing elite competition with an academic life at Columbia University – has reinforced her appreciation of robust support systems. ‘At Columbia, there was a strong network to help athletes manage academics, performance and wellbeing,’ she recalled. ‘My experience there taught me how important it is to have a clear goal and to think independently about what’s best to help me achieve what I want. The constructive support systems in place at both Columbia and the Hong Kong Sports Institute have been key to keeping me focused and consistent on the path toward becoming a professional athlete.’

Ms Chan’s role as the Institute’s new Sports Governance Ambassador has been made possible thanks to donations from Edith Shih FCG(CS, CGP) HKFCG(CS, CGP)(PE), Honorary Adviser to Council, Past International President and Institute Past President, and Executive Director and Company Secretary, CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.

Through mentorship and engagement, Ms Chan aims to show how governance principles can enhance both athlete experience and organisational performance. ‘Good governance plays a crucial role in educating stakeholders, ensuring accountability, and maintaining a fair and safe environment for all athletes,’ she concluded.