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24 August , 2012
Mainland Gold Medalists Rekindles
Olympic Spirit In Hong Kong
The mainland Olympic gold medalists arriving in Hong Kong in the afternoon of the 24th for a 3-day visit.
On August 24, a delegation of Chinese mainland gold medalists at the London 2012 Olympic Games arrived in Hong Kong for a 3-day goodwill and demonstration tour. China’s athletes were triumphant at the recently concluded London Olympics, winning a total of 38 gold medals. During their visit, the gold medalists were welcomed with open arms by a welcoming crowd in Hong Kong. And through a series of interactive activities and events, their athletic prowess and unyielding spirit left a lasting impression on one and all.
Among the guests at the cocktail reception to welcome the athletes are Mr. C.Y. Leung, Chief Executive of the HKSAR; Mr. Li Gang, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Lieutenant General Zhang Shibo, Commander of the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison; Mr. Song Zhe, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR; Mr. Timothy Fok, President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong.
At the cocktail reception on the 24th at the Harbour Grand Hotel, Mr. C.Y. Leung, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, congratulated the gold medalists on securing Olympic glory for their country. According to Mr. Leung, their achievements once again showed the world the strength of character of the Chinese people. He said, “The long road to Olympic glory is strewn with hardship and sacrifice, and every gold medal is a shining symbol of the triumph of the human spirit. The people of Hong Kong are united in their admiration for your strength and determination.”
In the morning of the 25th, the gold medalists split into 3 groups to meet the people of Hong Kong. During the badminton and table tennis exhibition matches at Queen Elizabeth Stadium, the king of the badminton court, Lin Dan, picked up a table tennis racket and challenged table tennis champion Zhang Jike to a game. Their ferocious volleys sent the spectators into a frenzy of excitement. The athletes also partnered up with a number of spectators in a friendly match. The female fan who teamed up with Lin Dan admitted to having a bad case of the jitters while playing alongside the Olympic champion.
Lin Dan, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng in a friendly game with 3 randomly drawn female spectators.
Table tennis gold medalist Zhang Jike and badminton champion Lin Dan squaring off in a table tennis match with a difference. (China Review News)
Over at the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool, eight diving gold medalists including Wu Minxia and Qin Kai made a splash with their eye-opening performance, including poolside, 3-metre springboard and 10-metre platform dives. They followed it up with a spectacular group dive in quick succession. Finally, for laughs, two of the divers plunged into the water while clinging to each other, much to the merriment of the audience.
Women’s 3-metre springboard diving gold medalist Wu Minxia performing a demonstration dive.
Men’s synchronized diving demonstration.
Women’s synchronized diving demonstration.
At the Siu Sai Wan Sports Centre, 900 local youths took part in an open sharing session with the athletes. One of the students, Hon Tze San, said that she learned the value of hard work and dedication from the athletes. Another, Wong Yin Ling, said that as an athlete representing Hong Kong, meeting these Olympic heroes face-to-face was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
One of the highlights of the tour is the sharing session between the Olympic gold medalists and young people.
The tour culminated with the Olympic Gold Medalists Gala Show in the afternoon of the 25th at the Hong Kong Stadium. Champion swimmer Sun Yang made his singing debut, performing a duet with local pop star Leo Ku to thunderous applause. Mr. C.Y. Leung also got into the act and sang the song Genuine Heroes along with Lin Dan and Chen Yibing as a tribute to the athletes’ never-say-die spirit. The gala show attracted a turnout of approximately 20,000.
Gold medal swimmer Sun Yang (right) and Hong Kong pop star Leo Ku (left) performing a duet on stage.
Mr. C.Y. Leung, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, attends the Olympic Gold Medalists Gala Show. On behalf of the people of Hong Kong, he thanks the gold medalists for their visit.
On the last day of the visit, 22 athletes including swimmers Sun Yang, Ye Shiwen and Jiao Liuyang, divers Wu Minxia and He Zi, shooter Yi Siling, Hong Kong Olympic badminton player Yip Pui Yin, gymnasts Wong Hiu Ying and Shek Wai Hung, and the members of the 4x100 sprint relay team, Tang Yik Chun, Lai Chun Ho, Ng Ka Fung and Ho Man Lok, took part in a sharing session at Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
Hong Kong’s student athletes took turns asking questions on stage. Wu Minxia was asked what the key to her success was. Wu said the most important thing was never giving up. She said, “Having a dream means you’ll be facing many difficulties and challenges. But your dream will also drive you forward and motivate you to do your best. Win or lose, you will have no regrets.” Yip Pui Yin was happy about the outpouring of support she received during the Olympics. She said she only wanted to give it all she got in every match. Losing the last match was a disappointment, but it had been a truly moving experience and she was grateful to the people of Hong Kong, “Without you, I wouldn’t be here today.”
The gold medalists delegation was led by the Chinese Olympic Committee. The tour was jointly organized by the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, and was part of the series of activities commemorating the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong’s reunification with China.
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