Welcome home reception for HKSAR Delegation to 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of People’s Republic of China held today (with photos)

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government hosted a welcome home reception at the Tsuen Wan Sports Centre this afternoon (December 17) for the HKSAR Delegation to the 12th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities of the People's Republic of China (NTGEM) returning from the Games. The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Head of the Delegation, Miss Rosanna Law, officiated at the ceremony and presented certificates of commendation to the athletes with outstanding performances as well as expressing gratitude to the coaches and support teams for their dedication.
      
     Jointly organised by the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People's Republic of China and the General Administration of Sport of China, and hosted by the People's Government of Hainan Province, the 12th NTGEM was held from November 22 to 30 this year in Sanya, Hainan. The NTGEM, held every four years, is positioned as a mass participation sporting event and participants are mainly amateur athletes. To encourage active participation from different regions and ethnic groups, the competitions award first, second and third prizes instead of gold, silver and bronze medals.
      
     The HKSAR took part in the Games for the first time. A total of 66 athletes participated in three competition events, namely shuttlecock, dragon boat and folk martial arts, as well as the demonstration event of dragon dance sport. Twenty athletes gave a lion dance performance at the opening ceremony. The athletes achieved remarkable results and were awarded in all four events with one second prize and four third prizes in total. The HKSAR Delegation also won the Sportsmanship Award. Apart from participating in the competition and demonstration events, the Delegation also joined the cultural exchange activities arranged by the Organising Committee to engage with athletes of other ethnic groups in developing a deeper understanding of the excellent traditional Chinese culture while consolidating a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.
      
     Attendance at the reception today included the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services and the Deputy Head of the Delegation, Ms Manda Chan; the Commissioner for Sports and Member of the Organising Committee of the Delegation, Mr George Tsoi; the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Delegation, Mr Timothy Fok; and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Delegation, Professor Patrick Yung.