Hong Kong’s elite athletes add voice to protests, pressing Carrie Lam to respond to the ‘demands of people’
- Over 50 athletes post on a popular online forum saying they are ‘extremely saddened’ by events
- They use entry cards to Sports Institute hostel but cover their names
A group of Hong Kong’s elite athletes have added their voice to the anti-extradition bill protests, pressing the government to respond to the “five major demands of Hong Kong people”.
Since Monday, over 50 athletes who remain anonymous have posted on a popular local online forum LIHKG saying they were disappointed with the way the government has handled the situation.
They used their entry cards to the athletes’ hostel at the Sports Institute in Fo Tan to prove their identity but covered their names, only referring to themselves as “elite athletes from different sports”.
“We have the right and responsibility to speak out as we are not only athletes but also a member of Hong Kong society,” they said.
“From the peaceful protests in early June, the situation has gradually turned into a series of clashes between police and the public because the government has ignored people’s demands, including the attack of a group of white shirt Triads on the protesters in Yuen Long. We are all extremely saddened.”
They cited the incident at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics when African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in black gloves at the award presentation claiming human rights for black people.
Civil servants plan extradition bill protest, piling pressure on Carrie Lam
“We request chief executive Carrie Lam and her team of officials respond to the five major demands of Hong Kong people,” they said.
They are: withdraw the extradition bill totally; withdraw the classification of the protest on June 12 as a riot; no further investigation into anti-extradition bill fighters; establish an independent commission to investigate police abuse of power and the Yuen Long violence; and fully implement universal suffrage in the chief executive and Legislative Council elections.
The petition has gained wide support from the forum but there has been no official response from the Sports Institute, which has over 1,000 athletes of all levels in their programmes.
Some top athletes have openly voiced their concerns.
“My knee problem is like the current situation of Hong Kong as it is injured,” said the 25-year-old at a public function. “But I believe Hong Kong people can overcome the difficult times, just like I can overcome my knee injuries.”
