“People will cheer and applaud them, which gives them a driving force in their pursuit of sport… Sports stars can drive the development of the entire industry, and we are currently seeing an increasing proliferation of fencing schools.”

Choi also dismissed concerns that athletes might spend too much time promoting celebrities instead of training, arguing that their coaches would give them direction on how to allocate their time.

Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) vice-chairman Vincent Cheng Wing-shun echoed Choi, suggesting that the government could grant tax exemptions to private institutions that sponsor celebrity endorsements of current or former athletes.

He also argued that relying solely on government subsidies was not enough to develop athletes.

“We are very keen for athletes to earn a living. It can be difficult for them to rely solely on government subsidies, so HKSI has helped them get some commercials that are deemed appropriate,” he said.

“We hope that we can encourage more commercial institutions to provide support in the form of funding or investments for athletes in addition to government subsidies.”

Doubts have been raised about the extent to which current grants are sufficient to support aspiring athletes, with some believing the amounts are too low and forcing promising candidates to give up on their dreams.

Badminton player Lee Cheuk-yiu was among those who complained that many athletes had given up due to a lack of financial support.

The 27-year-old once said he received only HK$7,000 (US$898) a month from government entry-level grants after dropping out of school to become a full-time athlete.

“I was 16 years old and HK$7,000 was like pocket money for me. But for athletes who are not of higher rank, it is their monthly salary.”

He demanded that the amount be at least equal to the city’s minimum wage.

Under the Hong Kong Sports Institute’s elite training scholarship, those who qualify to compete in the Olympic Games will receive HK$11,520 per month.

The amount increases with placings and medals won at the Games and other competitions. Medalists at World Championships and Olympic Games receive a standard award of up to HK$44,500.

Choi said the institute will review its training grants in September, with a report released early next year and new regulations implemented in April as the organization seeks to increase grants and adjust the eligibility threshold.

However, he defended the government subsidy mechanism, saying that it was divided into six levels and the HK$7,000 subsidy was only for entry-level training of junior athletes, while other subsidies covered food, accommodation, medical expenses and school fees.

The subsidies should not be considered salaries, he said.

“If they are full-time athletes, we offer them the opportunity to participate in training,” Choi added.

“The fact is that the subsidies do not provide them with a comfortable living, but we provide other support measures such as free food and accommodation, as well as comprehensive support such as tuition fees for university studies.”