The delegation of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Mainland Olympians arrived in Hong Kong yesterday (August 29) for a three-day visit. Twenty-nine people, including 22 athletes and three coaches, from the delegation met with members of the disciplined services and auxiliary services as well as their youth uniformed groups to share in the joy of the Olympians' achievements and give sports demonstrations at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy this morning (August 30).
In his opening speech, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, extended a warm welcome to the delegation on behalf of the six disciplined services and two auxiliary services. He said that members of the public can still vividly recall the moments when the Mainland Olympians strove for honours for the country at the Paris Olympic Games, showcasing their indomitable spirit. Acknowledging the resilience, distinguished skills, humanity, and selflessness of the Mainland Olympians in contributing to the country, he said these characteristics are shared by the disciplined services. He expressed hope that members of the disciplined services and youth uniformed groups would learn from and exchange with the Olympians while showing them the highest respect and admiration.
During the two-hour exchange activities, the Mainland Olympians from 10 sports events had close encounters with members of youth uniformed groups on stage. The Olympians also demonstrated their skills and shared their experiences with the audience. In the subsequent group activity, the heads of various services, members of the services and the youth uniformed groups formed teams with the Olympians to pull special-purpose vehicles and a fixed-wing aircraft from various departments, demonstrating the spirit of co-operation. Some 900 participants took part in the event, including staff members of the disciplined services and auxiliary services, and members of various youth uniformed groups of the services as well as their respective management committees.
Delegates participating in the event included the Deputy Head of the Paris Olympic Games Mainland Olympians delegation, Mr Zhou Jinqiang; the Director of Competition and Training Department of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), Mr Zhang Xin; the Deputy Director of the External Affairs Department of the GASC, Ms Shen Jie; and the Section Director of the Fourth Bureau of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Lu Jie. The Mainland athletes comprised Yang Jiayu (women's 20km walk), Wu Yu (women's 50kg boxing), Chang Yuan (women's 54kg boxing), Li Qian (women's 75kg boxing), Ji Bowen (men's C-2 500m canoeing), Liu Hao (men's C-2 500m canoeing), Lian Junjie (men's synchronised 10m diving), Yang Hao (men's synchronised 10m diving), Xie Yu (men's 10m air pistol shooting), Pan Zhanle (men's 100m freestyle and 4 x 100m medley relay), Sun Jiajun (men's 4 x 100m medley relay), Qin Haiyang (men's 4 x 100m medley relay), Xiang Binxuan (artistic swimming team event), Wang Liuyi (artistic swimming team event and duet), Wang Qianyi (artistic swimming team event and duet), Fan Zhendong (men's singles and team table tennis), Ma Long (men's team table tennis), Hou Zhihui (women's 49kg weightlifting), Li Wenwen (women's +81kg weightlifting), Liu Huanhua (men's 102kg weightlifting), Ou Zixia (women's hockey) and Li Hong (women's hockey). The three coaches were Zhang Xiaohuan (National Artistic Swimming Team), Ge Hongzhuan (National Shooting Team) and Wang Guoxin (National Weightlifting Team).
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