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Manulife Joins Hands with SF & OC to Launch Sports Scholarship Program - Million-dollar boost for Hong Kong Athletes in preparation for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
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01.03.2006 |
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Hong Kong ¡V Official Worldwide Life-Insurance Partner Manulife (International) Limited today announces the launch of a HK$2-million sports scholarship program for local elite athletes. The scholarship, called the "Manulife Hong Kong Sports Scholarship Program", aims to assist Hong Kong elite athletes to better prepare and strive for their best in the coming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and will be overseen by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC).
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The "Manulife Hong Kong Sports Scholarship Program" will run for a period of two years, under two phases. In the first phase, covering the year 2006 to April 2007, athletes nominated by their respective National Sports Associations (NSAs) and selected by the SF&OC, will receive a subsidy of HK$8,000 a month, disbursed on a quarterly basis, towards the cost of their training, coaching, medical and scientific monitoring as well as insurance coverage. Awardees in the first phase who have achieved outstanding performance in international competitions can apply for renewal of the scholarship in the second phase. It is expected that around ten local elite athletes will benefit from this new scholarship program in the first phase.
Apart from helping to give Hong Kong athletes the best possible chance to succeed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the scholarship program aims to contribute to the overall sports development in Hong Kong and to reinforce Manulife's commitment to promoting the Olympic movement to the local public.
Mr. Michael HUDDART, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Manulife (International) Ltd., said that he hoped this initiative would not only result in Hong Kong achieving its best-ever Olympic medals tally in Beijing in 2008 ¡X "a landmark Games for all Chinese" ¡X but that it would also help raise the profile of sport in Hong Kong and improve standards across the board. "As the sole Worldwide Life-Insurance Partner of the Olympic Games, Manulife is determined to do everything in its power to help make them the best the world has ever seen. At the same time, as a company devoted to the local community, we wish to reflect our pride at having been chosen for this important role by putting Hong Kong sports well and truly on the global map," added Mr. HUDDART.
The Hon. Timothy T. T. FOK, President, SF&OC echoed that NSAs should grasp this golden opportunity to nominate their respective athletes.
SF&OC has formed a Selection Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. F. K. HU, GBS, JP, together with Mr. Ronnie M. C. WONG, JP and Prof. LEUNG Mee Lee as members to assess and evaluate all nominations. The names of those athletes awarded scholarships under Phase I of the Manulife program will be announced in April 2006.
The "Manulife Hong Kong Sports Scholarship Program" will be open for application from March 13 ¡V 29, 2006. All eligible and interested NSAs are invited to submit applications to SF&OC's Secretariat. Detailed information and application forms can be downloaded from SF&OC¡¦s official website at www.hkolympic.org.
About Manulife (International) Limited
Manulife (International) Limited is a member of the Manulife Financial group of companies. Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$372 billion (approximately HK$2,476 billion) as at December 31, 2005.
Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ¡¥MFC¡¦ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ¡¥0945¡¦ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.
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