Latest national anthem blunder prompts Hong Kong sports body to further review guidelines for teams competing overseas
- Under existing guidelines, team members are required to act swiftly to call for a halt if the wrong song is played instead of national anthem
- Latest in string of mistakes, 2019 protest song ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ played instead of Chinese national anthem at Asian Classic Powerlifting Championship in Dubai
Hong Kong’s sports federation will further review guidelines for playing the national anthem at international events following another blunder overseas and require city teams to double check immediately after winning matches that the correct song will be used.
Local sports authorities will take another look at the current guidelines, announced two weeks ago, after a mistake last Friday at a weightlifting event in Dubai where a 2019 protest song was played, although the medal-winning Hong Kong athlete managed to quickly stop it.
Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, honorary secretary general of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, on Monday said the latest incident should be dealt with more seriously and the body would discuss improvements and strengthen guidelines.
“We will ask sport associations and teams competing overseas to be more detailed on this matter,” Wong told a radio programme.
“When it is confirmed that the Hong Kong representative has won a place in the top three, the manager or team leader must double check with the organisers that it is the correct national anthem before it is played.
“I believe the organisers should understand and cooperate with such requests because those incidents have happened a few times now, the whole world knows.”
Under the existing guidelines, team members are required to act swiftly to call for a halt if the wrong song is played. The team leader should also distribute a hard copy of the national anthem with a proper description including its name, and a city flag to the event organiser with an official confirmation before the game.