IF there was supposed to be a sense of history attached to the Hong Kong team's entrance into the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony, few felt it.
The territory was merely one of 197 countries and territories who walked proudly into Atlanta's Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony as far as the fans were concerned, receiving a hearty cheer from the crowd, but nothing more than what was given to most other teams.
What most of the 80,000 crowd probably did not know was that it was the last time Hong Kong would march at an Olympic Opening Ceremony under the British Flag.
The territory will continue to compete in international events after 1997, but under the flag of the Special Administrative Region of China.
Hong Kong's flag-bearer at the ceremony, women's hurdler Chan Sau-ying, was one of the few who acknowledged the importance of the event.
'It was a really proud moment for me as I walked into the Stadium,' she said. 'It is our last Olympics before 1997 so it was a historic occasion.' The Hong Kong athletes circled the Stadium with alacrity on their march past, led by Chan and headquarters staff Vivien Fung.