It will be a lonely affair when Hong Kong's bauhinia flag is raised at the athletes' village in Athens on August 14 - one day after the opening ceremony at the 2004 Games - with only a handful of local athletes and officials present when the SAR is officially welcomed as part of the Olympic family.
Despite long and protracted negotiations, Games organisers have pencilled in the official welcome ceremony for next Saturday, two days after the SAR squad arrive in Athens and when Hong Kong athletes will already be taking part in a number of events.
'We wanted the Hong Kong flag-raising ceremony to be held on August 12, the day we arrive in Athens. But we were refused as every time slot has been occupied. The next alternative was August 14 and while it is not ideal, we have to accept the fact that the organisers have to juggle around more than 200 countries and ceremonies,'' said Pang Chung, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee.
The Athens Games Organising Committee (Athoc) yesterday released the schedule for the team welcome ceremonies at the athletes' village. Hong Kong, who will take a 33-strong squad, have been slated in for August 14. China, who are represented by 407 athletes and led by basketball star Yao Ming, will be welcomed by the mayor of the village on August 9.
'A number of our athletes will not be present when the Hong Kong flag is raised at the village. But this is OK as we are going there for the competition and not to take part in ceremonies,'' said Pang.
Cycling ace Wong Kam-po will be taking part in the road race, one of the first medals to be awarded at the Olympics, and will be among a large number of local athletes who will be competing on day one. Others in action will be members of the table tennis, badminton, swimming, and fencing teams.
