Letters | Hong Kong athletes’ Olympic success shows sport’s power to bring us together

Readers discuss Hong Kong’s inspiring Olympics results and the city’s fight against Covid-19

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Letters

Published: 6:50am, 6 Aug 2021

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It happens every four years. Mesmerised by the skill, pumped up in the moment and, entertainingly, allowing the couch potatoes among us to dream that we, too, could be superstars. The dose of endorphins could not have come at a better time. We all love the Olympics.

I come from a land that invests heavily in sport. Every Saturday around Australia, parents stand around and watch, or volunteer to help, while kids play games, run and swim. It’s not compulsory, but hundreds of thousands do it.

It gives those gifted kids a chance to shine at an early age without doubt. But this process isn’t just about turning out super-athletes. It is learning about the value of participation and of community. It is about teaching children at an early stage the importance of working together. I’m convinced it is one of the ingredients in the success of our nation.

Every community has its own way of getting together and celebrating what is uniquely theirs. Seeing footage of throngs of Hongkongers in shopping malls cheering Edgar Cheung Ka-long winning the fencing gold medal and Siobhan Haughey’s two brilliant swimming medals reminded me again of the power of sport to bring people together, even in difficult times. How marvellous it is to bask in the warmth of such outstanding contributions.

Elizabeth Ward, consul-general of Australia, Hong Kong

05:46

Hong Kong’s most successful Olympian: Swimmer Siobhan Haughey wins second silver

Hong Kong athletes need support to shine

Hong Kong has won its first Olympic gold medal in 25 years. Cheung Ka-long won the gold in the men’s individual foil at the Tokyo Olympics, defeating the defending Olympic champion Daniele Garozzo.

Cheung’s win proves that Hong Kong athletes can also shine on the Olympic stage and win glory for our city. His achievement should also lead us to reflect on whether the Hong Kong government gives the athletes representing our city enough support. Some of them need to find other jobs to make a living. Although there is a funding programme for the athletes, it is only for the athletes who place highly in international competitions.

The Hong Kong government should provide a basic stipend for more full-time athletes so they can focus on sports rather than worry about making a living. Moreover, the government should build more training facilities and arenas for our athletes so they can improve. The government should also promote sports among students and the general public through activities and workshops.

Chan Tsz Chun, Tseung Kwan O

Why Cheung Ka-long’s fencing gold is a beacon of hope

I would like to share my opinion on the article, “Hong Kong’s golden boy” (July 27). First, as proud as any Hongkonger, I look forward to welcoming Edgar Cheung Ka-long back home to celebrate his victory on the world stage.

I am in awe of his modest quote, “If you work hard and do not give up, being an Olympic champion is not just a dream.” Some people disagree with this sentiment, perhaps because of failures which might discourage and crush many enthusiastic people’s dreams. Some adults claim that never giving up and working hard does not always mean you will succeed in your goal, but that success depends on luck.

The increasing progress of sports in Hong Kong seems less hopeless than I used to think it was. Hong Kong did not win a single medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, unlike in the 2012 London Olympics, so I didn’t expect much this year. But our athletes came through to triumph and earn a few medals. Let’s hope this Hong Kong spirit lasts until the next Olympics.

Samantha Lam, Tai Po

Reopening borders with mainland must be main priority

Hong Kong has to get its priorities right. Reopening its borders with the mainland should definitely be the top priority.

Hong Kong should adopt the same health bar code system as Shenzhen, and green bar code holders should be allowed to enter and leave the city. Foreign visitors should have to show a valid coronavirus test before entry.

At the moment, priority is given to foreign businesspeople. I am afraid this will delay the crucial reopening of borders with the mainland.

Khaw Wei Kang, Shenzhen

Act to raise confidence of vaccine-hesitant people

I recently came across a BBC article that explained clearly the various reasons people don’t want to take the Covid-19 vaccine. According to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund, the number of people who are hesitant to take the vaccine ranges from around 10 to 20 per cent of people in the United Kingdom to around 50 per cent in Japan and 60 per cent in France.

The report quoted Mohammad Razai, a clinical fellow in the Population Health Research Institute at St George’s, University of London, who has written about the various psychological and social factors that can influence how people make decisions around vaccines. The factors identified are confidence, complacency, calculation, constraints and collective responsibility.

Another study from the University of Oxford suggested that a fear of needles is a major barrier for around 10 per cent of the population.

Some months ago, many Hongkongers did not want a Covid-19 vaccine. It was because they had no confidence in the vaccine and were worried about short- and long-term side effects. Meanwhile, some less-developed countries fall into the “constraints” category as they lack the money to buy sufficient doses of the vaccine for their populations.

Jessica Saleska, a scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles, noted that people have two seemingly contradictory tendencies – a “negativity bias” and an “optimism bias” – that can each affect how they assess the risks and benefits of taking a vaccine. For people who have a negativity bias, the government can offer more information to help raise confidence in the vaccines.

Taking the vaccine is our collective responsibility. If confidence is an issue, people should consult their doctors before getting the jab.

Irene Zeng, Tseung Kwan O

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