Key Takeaways
- CTF Life, a Hong Kong-based life insurance company, extended its exclusive three-year collaboration with Paris Saint-Germain Academy (Greater Bay Area, China) to deliver football training programs across Hong Kong and mainland China
- The partnership will potentially reach approximately 10 million students from schools, corporations, and residential complexes across Hong Kong, Macau, and the Chinese mainland
- Participants gain access to Paris Saint-Germain training methodology plus international experiences including annual World Cup tournaments in Paris, stadium visits, and meet-and-greets with professional players
- The collaboration marks continued expansion of European football academies into Chinese youth sports markets through partnership with local financial services companies
Insurance Company Backs Elite Football Training Access
CTF Life, formally known as Chow Tai Fook Life Insurance Company Limited, announced the extension of its exclusive partnership with Paris Saint-Germain Academy (Greater Bay Area, China) on January 29, 2026. The three-year agreement positions the Hong Kong insurer as the primary channel for delivering Paris Saint-Germain’s football training programs throughout Hong Kong and all cities across mainland China.
The partnership connects one of France’s most recognized professional football clubs with Chinese youth through structured training programs. Paris Saint-Germain Academy operates the training initiative, while CTF Life provides distribution access and strategic support across the region.
Man Kit Ip, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of CTF Life, stated the collaboration “underscores our longstanding dedication to youth development through sport” and aims to create “meaningful pathways for the next generation of football talents across Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.”
Training Structure and International Opportunities
The program delivers Paris Saint-Germain’s training methodology through coaches certified by both the Paris Saint-Germain Academy and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Training emphasizes technical skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship in what Paris Saint-Germain Academy describes as “a fun and educational environment.”
Beyond regular training sessions, participants can access international experiences including participation in the annual Paris Saint-Germain Academy World Cup tournaments held in Paris, visits to Paris Saint-Germain’s home stadium, and opportunities to meet professional football players.
Yannick Ngassa, Chief Executive Officer of Paris Saint-Germain Academy (Greater Bay Area, China), explained the partnership “allows us to do more than just teach football; it allows us to build a solid foundation for the next generation.”
The program targets students across schools, corporations, and residential complexes in Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland Chinese cities, with CTF Life estimating potential reach of around 10 million students.
Cross-Sector Partnership Model
The collaboration represents a growing model in Chinese youth sports where financial services companies partner with international sports brands to deliver programming. CTF Life, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CTF Services Limited and part of the Chow Tai Fook Enterprises ecosystem, operates with a 40-year history in Hong Kong’s life insurance market.
The company describes the partnership as part of its strategy to “create value beyond insurance” by investing in youth development initiatives. This approach connects insurance offerings with lifestyle experiences and community programming targeted at families with children.
Paris Saint-Germain Academy gains distribution infrastructure and local market knowledge through the partnership, while CTF Life strengthens its positioning with families and builds brand association with elite international sports programming.
Regional Youth Football Development Trajectory
The extension signals continued investment in structured youth football programming across Greater China as international academies expand presence beyond traditional markets. Paris Saint-Germain Academy’s partnership model in the Greater Bay Area, which encompasses Hong Kong, Macau, and nine mainland Chinese cities, provides a framework for scaling European training methodologies across Chinese youth sports.
The three-year commitment provides stability for program development and potential expansion into additional cities and venues as demand grows. Both organizations emphasized long-term youth development and creating pathways to international football experiences as primary program objectives.
via: swx local sports
photo: PSG
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