Expanding the Arena: Philanthropy, Leadership, and Pathways Beyond Sport (Putonghua session)

The panel considered how elite athletes can turn sporting achievement into wider social impact through philanthropy, advocacy and public service. Moderator Rachel Wang invited Ma Ning, Li Xiaopeng, Deng Yaping and Yang Yang to reflect on moments in their careers that changed their understanding of the spirit of sport, and on how those lessons now shape their charitable work.

Each speaker described a formative experience. Ma said his love of football sustained him through his World Cup journey. For him, sport is grounded in fairness: winning through fair play matters more than exploiting loopholes. Li recalled the disappointment of defeat at the 2004 Athens Olympics, which taught him sport is more than victory, but also respect for opponents and the ability to recover from failure; he suggested that the same lesson applies to philanthropy. Deng spoke about being underestimated which fostered resilience and gratitude towards those who gave her opportunities. She now hopes to extend similar opportunities to others, especially people in need, by helping them find hope and purpose. Yang argued against defining sport solely through winners and losers, since that would imply that most participants have failed. She cited a 2010 speech by then IOC president Jacques Rogge at the Youth Olympic Games, which stressed developing “real champions” rather than simply producing more gold medallists. The idea led her to see that while only one person can win a final, anyone who strives and grows can become their own champion.

Wang then asked the panellists how they choose charitable projects. Ma suggested that athletes should begin within their own professional fields, where they have knowledge and credibility, before expanding into other areas. Li stressed the importance of long-term commitment. As in sport, philanthropy should not be driven by quick, visible results alone. He praised the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s sustained approach and recalled visiting elderly residents living in subdivided units through Club-backed programmes. Deng highlighted two initiatives in which she has been involved: “Genius Mom”, which links women skilled in intangible cultural heritage crafts with fashion designers to create products, and “Super Mom”, which supports causes relating to women and familites. She recalled how the latter had helped mothers of children with Down syndrome. Yang, drawing on her experience of running a charity organisation, spoke about the practical demands of fundraising, project management and dealing with setbacks. She urged those working in philanthropy to remain grounded in their original motivation during difficult periods while maintaining a clear focus on outcomes.

The discussion suggested that sport’s deepest value lies in the values it instils and the responsibilities it can inspire. For the panellists, philanthropy emerged as a natural extension of athletic life, rooted in fairness, resilience, gratitude and long-term commitment. Their reflections showed how sporting experience can be translated into wider social impact through purpose, discipline and sustained engagement with the needs of others.