Asian Games: Sports minister urges athletes to bring glory to Hong Kong, while learning about ‘our country’
- Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung visits city’s Sports Institute ahead of event in Hangzhou
- ‘During their stay in Hangzhou, I also hope they could have a deeper understanding of the development of our country’, Yeung says
Hong Kong’s sports minister visited the city’s Sports Institute on Thursday to give his best wishes to some of the hundreds of athletes making their final preparations before heading to the Asian Games.
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung spent time learning about how athletes were getting ready for the event in mainland China, as well as extending the government’s best wishes.
According to an official statement, Yeung also told the athletes he hoped they would “give their best and bring glory to Hong Kong” during their time in Hangzhou.
During his visit, Yeung, who was accompanied by the new commissioner for sports Sam Wong, and Sports Institute officials Chew Fook-aun, Jenny Fung and Dr Trisha Leahy, toured various facilities including the fencing, badminton and Wushu training areas.
Yeung also paid a visit to the cricket and judo squads on Wednesday as they prepared for their events at the Craigengower Cricket Club and the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park Sports Centre.
“While the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games will be held in Hangzhou, it means a lot for our athletes of the Hong Kong, China delegation to compete in our country,” he said.
“During their stay in Hangzhou, I also hope they could have a deeper understanding of the development of our country. By having more exchanges and interactions with athletes of other delegations, they would demonstrate the demeanour of great Hong Kong athletes.”
The Asian Games officially get under way on September 23, although the city’s cricket and football teams will be in action in the days leading up to the opening ceremony.
Hong Kong will send about 660 athletes to the Asian Games, which conclude on October 8, and about 98 athletes to the Asian Para Games, which run from October 22nd to 28th.
In addition to the institute’s support to athletes competing in elite sports events, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau has also approved from the Arts and Sport Development Fund (Sports Portion) a grant of HK$77 million in preparation funding to support other athletes and their teams preparing for both Games.
