Hong Kong’s Games stars feted by John Lee but sport official vows funding review

Hong Kong’s athletes were congratulated by the city’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu on Saturday for their record-breaking exploits in Hangzhou, but they and officials alike made clear that the focus had already shifted to the next destination: Paris.

The reception at the city’s government offices felt like the drawing of a line under the continental Games as a global version looms in the form of next year’s Olympics in the French capital.

Absentees included Siobhan Haughey, the swimmer wholly or partially responsible for six of Hong Kong’s 53 Games medals. Having since lowered her own Asian 100 metres freestyle record while winning World Cup races in Berlin, she was this weekend competing in another World Cup in Athens as she zeros in on 2024.

This weekend’s Asia Rugby Sevens Series tournament in Thailand, meanwhile, was occupying Hong Kong’s men’s and women’s teams, who were gold and bronze medallists respectively in Hangzhou. Their placing in that series will affect their Olympic qualifying prospects.

“One of my favourite phrases is, ‘The Games are finished, let the Games begin,’” said Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, president of the city’s Sports Federation & Olympic Committee.

“I know exactly how many days we have until the Olympics begin. We are celebrating, but every athlete is back training and focusing on their next target.”

Fok was “very happy” with Hong Kong’s return of eight gold, 16 silver and 29 bronze medals, but warned there should be “realistic” expectations when the Paris Games start in 285 days.

“We have limitations, and competition from around the world,” he said. “The chances of being the best in any field are minuscule.”

A 25-piece brass band launched Saturday’s proceedings by trumpeting the national anthem while large screens replayed Hong Kong’s finest moments: Haughey’s dominance of the 100m and 200m freestyle, fencer Cheung Ka-long picking off all-comers and the champagne spray around Taichi Kho after the golfer, too, bagged gold.

Lee praised the Hong Kong squad and presented medallists with certificates of commendation, but exited without fielding questions, as did Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung.

Whether the HK$7.4 billion of government funding lavished on elite sport over the past decade was money well spent will have to wait for another day, even with another Games cycle gathering steam.

So, too, will the question of whether the government’s planned redevelopment of part of Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling will affect the city’s ability to produce players of Kho’s calibre.

Can Hong Kong maintain Asian Games success? That is the HK$7 billion question

“There will be a review,” Fok said when asked about distribution of funding. “We want to support every sport – but there is a physical limitation.

“We spoke to John Lee and I think the government saw the merit of sport for society.”

As Fok spoke, the athletes were leaving, ready to swap their neat cream jackets and pressed blue trousers from Hangzhou for working clothes.

The Games are finished, let the Games begin.