Hong Kong swimming bosses and lawmakers discuss 5-point plan to solve eligibility row
- Officials gather to discuss row that erupted after 9-year-old was stopped from swimming in age-group race over club affiliation
Hong Kong lawmakers and former Olympic athlete turned Cantopop singer Alex Fong Lik-sun met the city’s swimming governing body on Wednesday, hoping to put an end to the row over the exclusion of a promising young athlete.
Fong and lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong put forward five suggestions on how to improve the state of swimming in the city, and a plan for ensuring talent did not get left behind.
Among the proposals was for a change in the club system, ensuring all clubs had access to resources, and a change in eligibility rules across all age groups.
Last week, Fong accused the Hong Kong China Swimming Association (HKGSA) of ignoring future stars after a nine-year-old member of his swimming academy was blocked from racing in certain events.
“Before we kick-started the meeting, Mr Ronnie Wong [president of HKGSA] had already expressed to us that these are the directions that they’re inclined to go with,” Ho, a member of the New People’s Party, said.
“They gladly accepted our suggestions and promised us that they would bring those suggestions to their respective executive committees to discuss.”