‘No limit’ on how many Hong Kong teams can enter National Games, top official says
Saga surrounding decision to limit entries to only sides that had top-eight finish at Paris Olympics or Asian Games has been resolved
The saga surrounding the decision over which Hong Kong teams could compete at the National Games has been completely resolved, top government officials revealed on Saturday.
Manda Chan Wing-man, director of Leisure and Cultural Services, said new criteria had been “agreed and passed”, adding that local national sports associations (NSAs) were now satisfied with the changes.
A row had previously broken out over the decision by the city’s organising committee that only sports whose teams finished in the top eight at either the Paris Olympics last year or the Asian Games in 2023 could enter multiple sides in team events not being staged in Hong Kong.
“There is no longer a requirement for the sport to have reached the top eight,” Chan said. “The NSAs are all very satisfied now. They will now put their teams forward according to [China’s] arrangements and timeline.”
Speaking to the Post after the 100-day National Games countdown ceremony at the Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O, Chan also confirmed there was “no limit” on the number of teams for each sport.
“The Games is a national event, so obviously we want athletes with high standards to participate,” she said. “The NSAs had spoken, and we were quick to respond.