Explainer | Why national anthem blunders have left Hong Kong rugby reeling and what is being done to stop same mistakes from occurring again
- Protest song ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ played before rugby sevens game in South Korea, sparking political firestorm
- Two more incidents related to the national anthem subsequently revealed
On Tuesday, after discussion with the Hong Kong government, the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, issued guidelines to sports associations under its wing on how to avoid and respond to similar blunders in international sports events.
In this explainer, the Post breaks down the debacle and the political fallout from the string of slip-ups.
1. How did we get here?
Ahead of the final of the second leg of the Asian Rugby Sevens Series in Incheon, South Korea on November 13, the song “Glory to Hong Kong” was played instead of the Chinese national anthem “March of the Volunteers” as the Hong Kong team prepared to take on the hosts.
“Glory to Hong Kong” was written during the 2019 anti-government movement, becoming a protest anthem sung at rallies and by some spectators at football matches.
