Twelve elite athletes from Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) visited Beijing earlier this month to soak up the Olympic atmosphere. The students study a range of subjects from sports science to translation, but are also outstanding athletes, with many of them representing Hong Kong at an international level. The five-day trip was organised by CUHK's physical education unit. The group attended Olympic competitions and visited Olympic stadiums and other sports facilities. The students were impressed by the Olympic fervour. Lee Ka-ming, a Hong Kong volleyball representative in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, witnessed the strong solidarity among the Chinese fans. 'We watched the beach volleyball and hockey events. The audience's emotions were overwhelming. Whenever the Chinese teams entered the stadium, the audience would burst into loud applause and chant slogans,' said Mr Lee. Chiu Tsz-wang, who took part in the 2008 1st Asian University Handball Championship, was moved by the athletes' persistence. 'We look up to them as role models. I'm going to practise harder and practise more, said Mr Chiu. 'Only through persistent practice can you excel in your event.'
