
Sport onto a winner amid Cheung glory
- The importance of nurturing and funding the city’s athletic development has been underlined with fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long claiming the world title in Paris
Olympian’s heartfelt message to Hong Kong parents: let your child be a fencer
The remarkable success of the pair goes beyond personal honour. Our world-class athletes are not just a source of social identity and inspiration, but also an engine for policy reforms. The better than expected performance of the Hong Kong team at the Tokyo Olympics – one gold, two silvers and three bronzes – has prompted the government to commit more time, effort and money to sports. Cheung’s latest achievement has helped sustain the momentum in furthering that development. Even though the city’s small delegation to the Winter Olympics in Beijing next month is not expected to shine, the public still has a lot to look forward to, such as September’s Asian Games in Hangzhou and other international competitions this year.
The city has come a long way in establishing itself in the world sports arena, and its full potential has yet to be achieved. One of the initiatives in recent government restructuring proposals is to create a new policy bureau overseeing sports, culture and tourism. This has raised hopes of a more strategic and focused approach to sports development. It is to be hoped that a lot more may be achieved.
