Hong Kong Set To Reach Budget To Bid For Swimming Championships

Top swimming official Ronnie Wong Man-chiu is "confident of organising" a HK$95M ($12.3M) budget by Monday to enter a bid for the '16-18 world short-course championships, according to Chan Kim-wa of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. Hong Kong Swimming Association Honorary Secretary Wong said that the association has been "talking to a number of potential title sponsors to pitch in a maximum of HK$30M ($3.9M)." Wong: "We are talking about a very large amount of money, but it is not impossible. If everything goes according to plan, we can announce some good news later this week." Wong said that the title sponsor is only "required to contribute one-third of the budget," so there would be other income "to guarantee the event would at least break even." Wong: "Half of the expenditure can be offset by ticket sales, ground advertisements, broadcasting rights and other support such as air fares, board an accommodation. We are also looking for government support with funding from the Mega Events Fund" (SCMP, 10/9).