Olympic Committee promises more transparency after ‘unfair’ selection criteria at Jakarta Games

The Hong Kong Olympic Committee has promised to be more transparent in its selection of athletes for major games after being accused by the Legislative Council’s Public Accounts Committee of applying double standards when choosing squad members.

At a public hearing following up on the Audit’s Report No 74 released in April, committee members slammed the Olympic Committee on their selection of swimmers for the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.

Committee member Lam Cheuk-ting was flabbergasted one of the swimmers had broken his leg three months before the Games but still kept his place on the team despite needing major surgery. He came home with disappointing results in Jakarta. Another swimmer was denied a place on the team despite encouraging form and showing promise.

And there was also a case where another athlete who met only unspecified criteria before obtaining the green light to compete in Jakarta.

“They [seem] to have a different set of standards when choosing [their] swimmers,” said Lam. “Those who come from a big swimming club are given preference and this is not fair. They are using public money to send athletes to the Games and they must be held accountable for their decision.”

Another member, Shiu Ka-fai, also questioned the rationale of sending an athlete who had undergone surgery before the Games. “The athlete’s result in Jakarta proved he was not competitive enough,” he said. “If he was not able to regain his best form in time [after surgery], the selection committee should have given his place to another athlete.”