Chinese sport yesterday mourned Henry Fok Ying-tung, the Hong Kong tycoon who donated millions of dollars to sporting projects and athletes on the mainland.

Fok, whose death in Beijing at the age of 83 was reported on Sunday, made his donations through the Fok Ying-Tung Sports Fund, which has rewarded each Chinese Olympic champion since 1984 with a 1kg gold medal and $80,000.

When China won the right to host the 2008 Olympics in 2001, Fok donated $25.40m towards the cost of building the showpiece "Water Cube" acquatics centre in Beijing.

His son, Timothy, now serves as the IOC member for Hong Kong, which will host the equestrian events for the 2008 Olympics.

An enthusiastic soccer player and fan, Fok joined the executive board of FIFA in 1978 and was instrumental in China's return to international football in 1980.

In 1999 Fok was awarded FIFA's Order of Merit for his "philanthropic assistance to Chinese and Asian football, and for his loyal service to world football for over 20 years".

In 1970, the year he started his 27-year reign as president of the Hong Kong FA, he flew Brazilian club Santos, including Pele, to Hong Kong for an exhibition match.

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