Tag Archives: hong kong athletes

Hong Kong: Hong Kong athletes share experience with youths (with photos)

Posted on by

The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, today (January 9) called on the younger generation to learn from the perseverance and unyielding spirit of Hong Kong athletes who took part in the East Asian Games (EAG).

More than 150 young people attended the 2009 East Asian Games – Hong Kong Athletes Sharing with Youths session, jointly organised by the Home Affairs Bureau and the Commission on Youth (COY) at Youth Square in Chai Wan this morning. Hong Kong athletes who won at the EAG shared with young people their experiences in striving for excellence in the games.

Speaking at the sharing session, Mr Tsang said: The younger generation has so much to learn from the great perseverance, can-do spirit and exemplary sportsmanship of Hong Kong athletes. I hope todays gathering, through sharing and interaction, will benefit everyone.

The COY Chairman Mr Bunny Chan also said that the arduous training and great determination of the Hong Kong athletes provided a good model for young people in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong athletes who attended todays sharing session included Kwok Chi-ho, Wan Kin-yee, Li Ching, Ko Lai-chak, Cheng Chung-hang, Kong Man-yi, Yu Sum-yee and Chan Hei-man.

A photo exhibition on the EAG was also held to recapture the legendary moments of the games. Members of the public are welcome to visit the exhibition to be held at Y Platform, Youth Square, 238 Chai Wan Road, from tomorrow (January 10) to January 17.

Hong Kong: Welcome home ceremony for Hong Kong SAR delegation to 11th National Games (with photo)

Posted on by

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation won a total of seven medals, consisting of two gold, one silver and four bronze, at the 11th National Games, the highest number of medals Hong Kong has ever scored at the Games.

In honour of the Hong Kong athletes for their encouraging results in the Games, the Government hosted a welcome home ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, this evening (November 10).

Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs and the head of the HKSAR delegation to the 11th National Games, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, said that competing against top athletes from other provinces and cities, Hong Kong athletes achievement in the Games was remarkable. Hong Kong took pride in their good results. They have also set a good example to the younger generation, he said.

Mr Tsang said that the National Games was the countrys highest-level sports event. Competition in some of the events was as stiff as in those of the Asian Games and even the Olympic Games. It was encouraging that in competing with elite athletes from other provinces and cities, Hong Kong athletes had done their best and were among the top eight best performers in a number of sports events.Five new Hong Kong records in athletics and swimming were also set.

HKSAR has sent a delegation to the National Games since 1997 when the 8th National Games was held, and then the 9th and 10th National Games in 2001 and 2005 respectively. Having achieved one gold medal in the 8th National Games, the Hong Kong delegation recorded more outstanding results with two gold, two silver and one bronze medal in the 9th National Games. The Hong Kong team took one gold and three bronze medals in the 10th National Games.

Six of the medals at the 11th National Games were scored by Wong Kam-po, Patrick Lam, Chan Chun-hing, Alex John Hunter, Daniel Lee Chi-wo and Kenneth Cheng in the cycling, equestrian and triathlon events. An equestrian team formed by Patrick Lam, Samantha Lam, Kenneth Cheng and Jacqueline Lai won another medal in the jumping team event. (See Annex 1 for the medal results of the HKSAR delegation at the 11th National Games.)

A total of eight athletes broke the Hong Kong records in swimming events: the mens 100-metre butterfly; mens 200-metre butterfly; mens 200-metre freestyle; and mens 4x100m medley relay and 4 x 100 metres athletics relay. (See Annex 2 for sport events that broke Hong Kong records.)

Hong Kong athletes were also among the top eight best performers in the following sports: athletics, badminton, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, windsurfing, swimming, wushu (taolu), tennis and table tennis.

Looking forward, Mr Tsang said Hong Kong athletes would participate in various international sports events including the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and the 2012 London Olympics. He said he believed that they would continue to do their utmost in meeting the challenges ahead and strive for the best results.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the HKSAR to the 11th National Games, Mr Timothy Fok, said as the hosts of the 5th East Asian Games (EAG), the Hong Kong athletes outstanding performance at the 11th National Games was no doubt a great encouragement to them. He said he believed that they would attain more remarkable results in the EAG.

Also officiating at the ceremony was the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services and deputy head of the HKSAR delegation to the 11th National Games, Mrs Betty Fung. The three officiating guests presented commendation certificates to athletes achieving outstanding results at the 11th National Games.

Held every four years, the National Games is the highest-level multi-sports event held in the country. The 11th National Games were held in Shandong Province between October 16 and 28. About 230 Hong Kong athletes took part in 25 sports events, comprising swimming, water polo, athletics, badminton, baseball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, sailing, windsurfing, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, wushu (taolu), short track speed skating and figure skating.

Hong Kong: All East Asian Games venues have been geared up (with photos)

Posted on by

The Hong Kong Jockey Club International BMX Park in Gin Drinkers Bay, Kwai Chung, was officially open today (October 31), marking another major milestone in the preparation for the 2009 East Asian Games (EAG).

Officiating at the opening ceremony of the BMX Park, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, said the opening of the BMX Park provided local cycling athletes with atraining and competition venue which meets international standard. This will not only enableour athletes to better prepare themselves for the EAG and strengthen their training, but also spur the longer term development of local cycling sport.

He added that the two-day BMX events to be held in this new venue could test the strength of the cycling team as well as the facilities of the venue and the related arrangements.

He wished that the Hong Kong athletes competing in the EAG could achieve remarkable results. He also hoped that members of the public would actively participate in the Games and cheer for the Hong Kong athletes.

The 4th Asian BMX Championships was held right after the official opening of the BMX Park today. It was the first race held at BMX Park and the first international BMX competition hosted by Hong Kong. It had provided an opportunity to test the efficacy of the venue, the overall operation and crowd control for the EAG BMX competition on December 5.

Built with the donation of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the BMX Park is equipped with a 350m international standard race track and has a seating capacity of 780. The race track was designed by Tom Ritzenthaler, an expert appointed by the Union Cycliste Internationale. Other ancillary facilities include canteen, lavatory and shower room for athletes, medical station, doping control room and media room which are complied with the standards for holding international events. There is also a racing track for beginners inside the Park that will help in the training and promoting of BMX sports.