All of China's gold medal winners to visit Hong Kong next week

A 'gold-medal delegation' of nearly 100 Chinese athletes, coaches and officials will visit Hong Kong next week in their first public appearance outside the mainland after the Olympics.

Some of the athletes taking part will be diving star Guo Jingjing and her teammate Wu Minxia, weightlifter Chen Xiexia, who grabbed the first gold medal for China in Beijing; swimmer Liu Zige, who set a world record in the women's 200 metres butterfly, top badminton players Lin Dan and Zhang Ning and male and female members of the table tennis and gymnastics teams.

The Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department are due to announce details of the three-day visit today.

It is understood that all the Chinese gold medal winners will visit. They will speak to youth groups, stage exhibition matches and take part in shows at Hong Kong Stadium. It is understood that the winners will stage four performances next Saturday morning after their arrivals next Friday from Sichuan, where they will pay their first visits.

All-around Olympic gymnastics champion Yang Wei will appear at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai, and Guo and Wu will perform dives at Shing Mun Valley Swimming Complex in Tsuen Wan.

Top badminton players Lin and Zhang will perform at the Kowloon Park Indoor Games Hall in Tsim Sha Tsui, while top table tennis player Zhang Yining and teammates will show their skills at Shek Kip Mei Park Indoor Games Hall in Sham Shui Po.