Asian Games 2023: Hong Kong stars feted at government reception, but Olympic committee chief promises funding review
- Government reception hails medallists from Hangzhou, even if the celebrations are muted with focus already switching to Paris Olympics
- ‘We want to support every sport – but there is a physical limitation,’ Sports Federation & Olympic Committee president Timothy Fok says
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.”
