Olympics chief defends low number of athletes in torch relay
The president of the Sports Federation and Hong Kong Olympic Committee, Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, has said he sees no problem in having only 42 athletes among the 120 torch-bearers for the city's Olympic relay on May 2.
The federation and committee nominated 84 of the 120 torch-bearers, while 12 were named by the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and 24 by sponsors.
Of the 42 athletes, 18 were recommended by district councils and 24 from different sectors of society.
Asked if too few athletes were involved, Mr Fok said: 'We want to see people from different sectors of the community joining the torch relay. It is not limited to sportspeople because this is an honour for all Hong Kong people.'
The government will hold another trial torch relay tomorrow. Traffic control measures, including road closures and diversions, will be implemented in some parts of Kowloon, the New Territories and Hong Kong Island from 10am to 5.30pm.
The Transport Department urged the public to pay attention to traffic arrangements and avoid driving in the affected areas. The MTR expects to handle more passengers and may put on extra trains.
The Examinations and Assessment Authority told students and invigilators attending the A-level Principles of Accounts examination tomorrow to leave early for the venue.
Meanwhile, the chief executive of the Equestrian Company, Lam Woon-kwong, which is organising the Olympic equestrian events Hong Kong is hosting, said in Beijing that 38,000 of 40,000 tickets for the events had been snapped up, with 20,000 sold on the mainland.
He said the equestrian course at Sha Tin should be completed by June and other facilities at Beas River in July.
