Father of Hong Kong sport A de O Sales dies, aged 100: confronted terrorists, played by the book and helped Hong Kong achieve sporting autonomy after 1997

A de O Sales, the man who confronted terrorists in Munich 1972, gave Hong Kong sport a life of its own 70 years ago and helped preserve the city’s sporting autonomy beyond 1997, has died. He was 100.

Arnaldo de Oliveira Sales, affectionately known as “Sonny”, died on Friday. Because of illness, Sales stepped away from public life in the 2000s and had been at the Hong Kong Sanatorium for around 10 years before his death.

“The officers and members of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) would like to express our sadness and deepest condolences for the passing away of our Honorary Life President, The Hon Arnaldo de Oliveira Sales, GBM, JP, on 6 March 2020,” the SF&OC said in a statement on Saturday.

“Being one of the founders of the federation, Mr Sales devoted more than half a century as Honorary Secretary General, Chairman, President and Honorary Life President respectively to provide insights in different stages of sports development in Hong Kong and internationally.

“Under his presidency from 1967 to 1998, Hong Kong athletes gradually gained recognition in many international multi-sports Games such as the Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games and Asian Games. With his vision and utmost effort, Hong Kong was retained as a separate sporting entity after the changeover of sovereignty which greatly supported the continuum of worldwide exposure of Hong Kong athletes for sports competitions beyond 1997.”

Sales was SF&OC president since its early years until 1998, when he decided against running for another term, with Timothy Fok Tsun-ting taking over the helm.

“Sales is the pioneer of Hong Kong sport and has played an important role also in the international stage,” said Fok. “Sales always believed sports can fulfil a person’s happiness at a time when sports was still luxury in Hong Kong society

“As the chairman of Urban Council, he fostered the construction of many swimming pools in various different districts which was envy by many developed countries

“Other major sports facilities such as Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Coliseum, Wan Chai Sports Ground were related to him

SF&OC vice-president Vivian Lau was among those who were close to Sales during his lifetime.

“It is a great loss and we will always remember him,” said Lau. “He was a figure who was very important in the history of Hong Kong sports. He did so much for Hong Kong sport and for international sport.”

Sales, an ethnic Portuguese, was born on January 13, 1920 in Guangzhou and moved to Hong Kong when he was eight. He is an alumni of La Salle College, as well as St Joseph’s in Hong Kong and Macau and excelled at hockey.

Known to rule by the book – which made him unpopular among several sports associations – Sales played a major role in creating the Amateur Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong in 1950, becoming its president and giving Hong Kong athletes the opportunity to represent the then British colony in international sporting competitions – including the Olympics – as a separate entity.

Previously, Hong Kong’s top athletes would play under the China or Taiwan flags. One of his most famous stories was when he negotiated with Black September terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics and helped the Hong Kong team escape the athletes’ village. Eleven Israeli athletes were killed in the attack.

Sales was also a former chairman of the Urban Council, a member of the Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Committee.

One of his biggest international roles was as president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, presiding over Hong Kong’s last Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada in 1994 before the handover to Chinese sovereignty.

Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, president of Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association and honorary secretary general of the SF&OC, is a former Olympic swimmer who was with Sales during the Munich crisis.

“Sales was fully committed to sport in Hong Kong and even at the expenses of his own business. I’ve never seen anyone as dedicated as this,” said Wong.

“During the 1972 Munich Olympic Games incident, he asked the Black September terrorists to free Hong Kong athletes who stayed in the same block of accommodation as Israeli athletes. He made major contributions to Hong Kong sport on the world stage.

“His personal style was always under criticism for being dictatorial but he got things done.”

Sales is not survived by family and it is likely that the SF&OC will take responsibility for his funeral.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor paid tribute to Sales’ contribution to Hong Kong sport.

“Mr Sales committed himself to the development of sports in Hong Kong throughout his life and made significant contributions,” said Lam. “He has performed different roles in the SF&OC over these years, including president of the organisation for over 30 years.

“He helped to promote the more overseas competitions opportunities for Hong Kong athletes and helped Hong Kong athletes compete on the international stage under the name of Hong Kong, China after 1997.”

Additional reporting by Chan Kin-wa