Olympic success of Hong Kong athletes appreciated

Representatives from various sectors, congratulating the athletes, said the historic achievements of Hong Kong athletes and their indomitable spirit at the Paris Olympic Games will stir up enthusiasm for sports, boost the city’s sports industry and inspire it to make greater contributions to the country’s high-quality development.

At the Paris Games, which ended Sunday, 35 Hong Kong athletes competed in 13 sports. The Hong Kong team won two gold medals, the most ever, and two bronze, giving the special administrative region 37th place in the medal table, its highest finish at an Olympic Games.

In fencing, Vivian Kong Man-wai won gold in the women’s epee competition, while Edgar Cheung Ka-long defended his title in the men’s foil. Swimmer Siobhan Haughey won two bronze medals in the women’s 100m and 200m freestyle events.

In a congratulatory letter issued on Sunday, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council congratulated the Hong Kong athletes, saying their performance exemplified the “Lion Rock spirit”, showing the unwavering determination of Hong Kong youth to pursue their dreams.

The office expressed hope that Hong Kong athletes can continue to embody the Olympic spirit and strive for greater achievements that will contribute to the vitality of the Chinese nation.

The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said the Hong Kong athletes brought glory not only to Hong Kong but also to the entire country.

The liaison office expressed hope that the authorities would continue to support the sporting spirit and encourage residents to play a more active role in the development of the city and country.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also congratulated the Hong Kong team for their success, saying they had brought pride to the entire city.

“Each of them is a hero in the hearts of the people of Hong Kong,” Lee said.

Lee said the athletes’ achievements will add new impetus to the development of sports in the city and create an environment that will encourage wider participation in sports.

He said the government will improve sports infrastructure by transforming the existing sports facility into a facility dedicated to fencing training and competitions. It will also accelerate the development of other facilities for fencing and swimming.

Edgar Yang Joe-tsi, honorary secretary general of the Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee in China, said the performance of Hong Kong athletes at the Paris Olympics was “world-class”.

Stanley Cho Yu-kit, a 19-year-old university student, said Hong Kong’s heroics at this year’s Olympics would leave a lasting impression and inspire younger athletes to reach their full potential.

“Every athlete showed dedication and showed their abilities, boosting everyone’s confidence,” Cho said. “Looking ahead to the next Olympics, I hope we can win more gold medals.”

Hong Kong resident Diana Chen, 54, said she was particularly proud of Kong, who had achieved success not only in sports but also in academics, serving as a positive role model for Hong Kong’s youth.

“She is full of positive energy and always smiling, which gives me hope that our younger generations can also overcome hardships and have the strength to face the challenges life throws at them,” Chen said.

Brandon Lam contributed to the creation of this story.