Everyone knows Li Ka-shing, but when it comes to Fok Yingdong’s name, many people may not be very familiar with it, but he is such a person who has made great contributions to China’s sports industry, especially the well-known Beijing Huo Yingdong played an important role in the successful bid for the Winter Olympics. But it is a pity that such a person who loves sports and has made great contributions to the country's sports industry did not wait until the opening of the Beijing Olympics!
Fok Ying-tung was born in Hong Kong in 1923, but unfortunately, his father passed away when he was 7 years old. This was a huge blow to a young child! Of course, China was poor and weak at that time. When Huo Yingdong was 12 years old, the Anti-Japanese War broke out. In the war years, he had no choice but to drop out of school! Fate did not knock down this weak child. Instead of bowing to misfortune, he held his head high and moved forward bravely, striving to pursue his future!
Most of the jobs that Huo Yingdong had to make a living in the early days were not very productive, and they were nothing more than apprenticeships and hard labor. However, Huo Yingdong was not satisfied with the status quo and kept trying new opportunities. Opportunities always come to those who are prepared. Huo Yingdong got a business related to bargeage, and this was the beginning of Huo Yingdong's wealth accumulation. Huo Yingdong's fortune is closely related to his later real estate business. For example, the installment payment business we now use when buying a house was invented by Huo Yingdong! Once the opportunity is seized by Huo Yingdong, it will not slip away easily from his fingers. He continues to expand his business territory, and his business scope involves real estate, construction, shipping, building materials, petroleum, department stores, hotels, restaurants, etc.! While Fok Ying-tung became prosperous, he also made important contributions to the development of Hong Kong's economy. Therefore, he has served as the president of the Hong Kong and Chinese General Chamber of Commerce for a long time.
Of course, with the advancement of reform and opening up, Fok Yingdong continues to increase investment and construction in the mainland, contributing to the development of New China, and one of them is sports. According to rough estimates, Huo Yingdong’s investment in sports in the mainland is about more than 1 billion Hong Kong dollars!
Due to various reasons, China almost severed ties with various sports organizations in the world before the 1970s. But as China continues to develop, China's sports industry is also booming. Huo Yingdong has played an important role in the return of Chinese football and Chinese basketball to international organizations. Originally, when FIFA and the National Sports Commission discussed the issue of Chinese football rejoining FIFA, things did not go very smoothly and even reached a deadlock. At this time, Huo Yingdong used his strong connections and capital to handle this problem well, which greatly promoted the development of China's sports industry.
After entering the 1990s, China began to bid for the Beijing Olympics. With the efforts of all parties, Beijing has a good chance of hosting the 2000 Olympics. During this period, Huo Yingdong also actively worked to promote Beijing's successful bid for the Olympics in all aspects. To this end, he also contributed 1 million US dollars as the construction cost of the International Olympic Museum. However, when it was announced that Sydney would be the host of the 2000 Olympic Games, Fok Yingdong at the scene was like a bolt from the blue. He was struck down by the reality in front of him. He even needed the help of others to walk. It can be seen that the failure of Beijing's Olympic bid this time has caused Huo Yingdong caused a huge blow! However, Huo Yingdong did not collapse and continued to run on the road to Beijing's Olympic bid.
Finally, Beijing successfully bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games. Although Huo Yingdong was not present this time, his wish for many years finally came true.
On the night when Beijing's Olympic bid was successful, Huo Yingdong couldn't sleep for a long time...
Huo Yingdong's awards and encouragement to athletes were also generous! Perhaps many people still think that gold medals are pure gold, but in fact, the gold content in gold medals is only a small part, and most of them are silver. The gold medals in the Tokyo Olympics have even had their skin picked off! Of course, the gold medal is more of an honor! Huo Yingdong has set up a fund specifically to reward athletes who have achieved outstanding results in the Olympic Games. He will create a pure gold medal for each athlete who wins a gold medal. The monetary value of such a gold medal alone is about 500,000 yuan! In addition, cash prizes will be given to these medal-winning athletes! These are all real! It can be seen how much Huo Yingdong supports the sports career of the motherland!
Even if the national football team worries the Chinese people, Huo Yingdong spares no effort to support it! In order to encourage the Chinese men's football team to enter the World Cup in Italy, Huo Yingdong launched a huge reward, each player will receive a reward of US$10,000! Although $10,000 may not seem like a lot now, but you have to remember that the class was in 1989! However, even under such policy incentives, the men's football team still failed to break out of Asia! In addition to the policy of qualifying for the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, the national football team is really getting worse year by year!
If we want to become a sports power, the construction of sports facilities is essential! Huo Yingdong spared no effort in this regard. He built gymnasiums all over the country, and some gymnasiums were named after Huo Yingdong! The construction of the "Water Cube" as we all know it also has the contribution of Huo Yingdong. For the "Water Cube" alone, Huo Yingdong donated 200 million yuan, which is almost equivalent to donating a quarter of the "Water Cube". "!
However, it is a pity that Fok Yingdong passed away in 2006 and did not wait for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. For a person who loves sports and has made great contributions to the development of sports, it is really a life-changing event. What a big regret!
However, Huo Yingdong's spirit of unremitting dedication to sports has been passed on. His son Huo Zhenting and grandson Huo Qigang are all exerting their strength for sports! Moreover, the wedding of the century held by Huo Qigang and Guo Jingjing in 2012 was of even greater significance! And the father-in-law Huo Zhenting used the word "marrying" Guo Jingjing to describe the wedding, which further demonstrated the family tradition of a famous family!
The development of national sports cannot be separated from everyone’s efforts and dedication. Let us pay tribute to Mr. Fok Yingdong!