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Stanley Cheung, who served The Hong Kong Jockey Club for 36 years, is now retired and remains one of the founding members of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team, exemplifying the spirit of giving back to the community.
Stanley, who dedicated 36 years to the Club’s Information Technology Department, is one of the founding members of CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team, established over 20 years ago. He laughs as he describes himself as a “sports fan”, “I became interested in sports in secondary school, often participating in activities like rock climbing and hiking”, he says. Fifty years after graduation, he still maintains his hiking habit. This passion for sports, combined with his original commitment to serving the community, is the main reason he is particularly dedicated to volunteering at sporting events.
He explains that volunteer service offers life goals distinct from his career, allowing him to meet and build social bonds with volunteers from all over the world.
In his volunteering journey, the 2009 East Asian Games remains Stanley's most memorable experience. It was his first time volunteering at a major sporting event. He was responsible for receiving and guiding North Korean sports officials and athletes for the rowing competition held at Shing Mun River in Sha Tin. Recalling the challenge, he says, “We did not share a common language, so we had to rely on body language. But thanks to our shared passion for sports, we were still able to communicate.” This experience gave him the deep sense of satisfaction that volunteering brings. Years later, he welcomes another opportunity to participate in a major sporting event, the National Games, the nation’s highest-level quadrennial event.
For the 15th National Games, 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th National Special Olympic Games (NGD & NSOG), over 16,000 volunteers are officially appointed to serve for the Hong Kong competition region—an unprecedented scale. The Club is also deploying nearly 100 volunteers to participate.
Compared to the East Asian Games, volunteer recruitment for the 15th National Games is significantly more rigorous. Each volunteer must complete 13 hours of training and pass an assessment to become an official volunteer. The comprehensive training covers details such as handling injuries, crowd management, and competition operations support. Stanley notes, “If you fail the assessment, you will lose the qualification to be a volunteer.” This requirement highlights the high standards expected and serves as a guarantee of service quality. Stanley is assigned to the rugby sevens competition for the 15th National Games. Unlike the common perception that sports volunteers simply maintain order, he is responsible for recording the scoring players, which requires familiarity with the match rules. This role demands a certain level of technical expertise and professionalism. It is precisely this professional support that ensures the smooth running of the competitions.
Stanley's genuine commitment to community service echoes the Club’s long-term pledge to the community. The Club is providing a total of HK$450 million and is the sole Partner Sponsor of the 15th National Games and NGD & NSOG for the Hong Kong Competition Region. This means that seasoned volunteers like Stanley, can demonstrate their enduring spirit of service on a structured, large-scale stage.
(Bottom) We also set up booths outside the stadium, where CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team members create balloon figures to bring joy to spectators.
Did you know?
Our support extends to the Guangdong competition zone, where we have not only allocated RMB50 million for preparatory work but also provide high-level technical support for local equestrian events. In addition, the Club is sponsoring the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) to provide cash incentives under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme to Hong Kong, China athletes who win medals at the 15th National Games and NGD.
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