Laureus Charity Golf Invitational Hong Kong takes place at The Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club

The Invitational took place at the incredible Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club, stretching out into the South China Sea. Joining the friends and partners of Laureus Sport for Good and other fundraisers were a trio of Laureus legends from the world of sport: Laureus Sport for Good chairman, Sean Fitzpatrick, the former All Blacks rugby captain; Ruud Gullit, who won the European Championship, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or as a footballer and is now a Laureus World Sports Academy Member and Laureus Ambassador Annabelle Bond, the adventurer who became the fastest woman to climb the Seven Summits.

Fresh off his historic gold medal success at the Asian Games, local golf sensation Taichi Kho also teed up at The Clearwater Bay, as did singer, actress and ladies amateur golf star Stephanie Ho. Laureus has a longstanding partnership with the Hong Kong Elite Athletes Association (HKEAA). Representing HKEAA at the Invitational were local Laureus Ambassadors; HKEAA Chair Malina Ngai, Amy Chan, Ron Lee, Mario Chau, Vivian Lee, Daniel Lee and Jonathan Tong. 

Funds raised at this special event will support the work of Laureus Sport for Good in Hong Kong, China and the wider region. Laureus currently works with ten programme partners in Hong Kong, in addition to over 300 worldwide. Its work in this region has at its centre the Model City Hong Kong initiative, a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to using sport to improve youth mental health and wellbeing in the region.

Partners for the Invitational included IWC Schaffhausen as event patron, Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) and Rugby for Good, the event’s charity partner, as well as golfing apparel specialists Peter Millar and G-Fore. Following the on-course competition, guests enjoyed a gala dinner featuring a highly anticipated auction, all to raise funds for Laureus Sport for Good’s efforts in Hong Kong. 

Prizes included a luxury watch from long-standing Laureus partner IWC Schaffhausen, invitations to play in exclusive golf tournaments and attendance at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.

Sean Fitzpatrick said: “It's brilliant to be back here in Hong Kong with Ruud, Annabelle and our Ambassadors from the Hong Kong Elite Athletes Association. This is our second tournament this year at the stunning Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club, and what a golf course this is. The Club’s generous philanthropic work supporting communities here in Hong Kong sits hand in hand with the values of Laureus. 

Ruud Gullit, Laureus Academy Member, said: “What a day! I’ve been fortunate to play golf around the world and Clearwater Bay is up there for me, one of the most beautiful courses I’ve seen. Events like this can generate vital funds for the work supported by Laureus Sport for Good, and they can also foster connections between people and organisations that can grow our movement. I’ve been fortunate this week to visit two of Laureus’ fantastic Model City Hong Kong partners; Inspiring HK Sports Foundation and Run Hong Kong. I hope this event helps us expand that important work here in Hong Kong.”  

Annabelle Bond, Laureus Ambassador, said: “It’s wonderful to be back here at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club for another great event raising important funds to support Laureus’ work here in Hong Kong. We’re making great progress, but we want to accelerate this work. Through events like the Invitational and the amazing support we receive from donors and partners, we hope to expand those activities here in Hong Kong. We’re serious about supporting young people with mental health challenges here. We hosted a mental health forum here in 2020 and have plans to work with our partners to continue pushing that conversation to the front of the agenda.” 

Peter Downie, General Manager and Director of Golf at The Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club, said: “It’s an incredible honour to welcome the Laureus Charity Golf Invitational to our club. This was a truly unique event for the golfers who took part not only in the competition on the course, but in the gala dinner and auction that followed. Everyone at Clearwater Bay supports the fantastic work that we’re raising money for, changing young lives in Hong Kong through the power of sport, and we are so proud to be a part of this project.”

Sven Johannsen, Managing Director, Northeast Asia for IWC Schaffhausen, said: “IWC and Laureus have a strong and long-standing partnership since 2005. We hosted the first Laureus Charity Golf Event in March 2023 as the official timing partner in Hong Kong which was very well received. In continuation of the long-term success, we are delighted to return and support once again for a charitable cause.” 

Laureus Sport for Good first began its work in Hong Kong in 2005 and is committed to supporting sport for development across Asia as part of its mission to user the power of sport to change the world. Since its inception in 2000, it has positively impacted the lives of more than six and a half million children and young people. Today it supports more than 300 programmes in over 50 countries and territories across the globe.