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Tom Bell

The Paris Olympics get into full swing on Saturday with the first day proper of competitive action, and it includes global stars as well as a genuine Hong Kong medal prospect.
Some of the events in the Games started as long ago as Wednesday, with the men’s rugby sevens competition almost over already.
But after the pomp of the epic opening ceremony on Friday night local time, the greatest show on Earth is officially open.
As pageantry makes way for sporting endeavour, here are some of the highlights to look out for on Saturday. All schedules referred to are in Hong Kong time.

Fencing: women’s épée
En garde: Vivian Kong Man-wai has the chance to make an instant impression on the Games for Hong Kong when she competes in fencing’s women’s épée.
The Queen of Swords is no long shot. She is the world No 1, and well placed to target the podium. Cheung Ka-long showed her the way by taking gold at the last Olympics in Tokyo three years ago.
Kong gets started at 4.50pm in the round of 32 against a qualifier yet to be determined. That bout may reveal what shape she is in, having nursed a knee injury this summer.
If she wins, the next rounds start at 8.10pm, 9.50pm and 1am Sunday, leading to the gold medal match at 3.30am on Sunday.
Hong Kong’s athletes go into the Paris Games with a tough act to follow after bringing home a stunning six medals from the Japan edition.


Kong, though, is ranked the best on the planet and has the opportunity to give her city a flying start.
China in frame for first gold
The first medals to be awarded in Paris are expected to be in shooting, in the 10 metre air rifle mixed team competition, and China are favourites to win it, through teenagers Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao.
The country should contend for another gold soon after, in diving, when Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani compete in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard event.
Men’s rugby sevens medals
The first men’s rugby sevens semi-final kicks off at 9.30pm. It features France, and their talisman Antoine Dupont, against South Africa, who knocked out fancied New Zealand.
Reigning champions Fiji, who squeezed past Ireland, will face Australia in the other semi at 10pm.

If Thursday’s thrilling quarter-finals are anything to go by, the atmosphere will be at fever pitch, especially with the home team in the hunt.
Hongkongers get started
Hong Kong has athletes in action in table tennis, badminton, judo, rowing, swimming and gymnastics on Saturday.
On the table tennis table, mixed doubles pair Wong Chun-ting and Doo Hoi-kem play in the round of 16 at 10.30pm. They are the No 4 seeds, so hope to challenge for a medal.
Badminton’s mixed doubles event also begins, with Hong Kong pair Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet playing at 8pm. At the same time, Yeung Nga-ting and Yeung Pui-lam are playing in women’s doubles.
Wong Ka-lee will be in action in the judo women’s -48kg round of 64 at 4pm.
In rowing, the men’s single sculls heats from 3pm will include Chiu Hin-chun. There will be plenty of bigger specimens than the diminutive Chiu, but he told us he hopes to outsmart the field.

Swimming has a packed first day that will include Hong Kong’s women in the heats of the 4x100 metres freestyle relay, at 6.15pm. The line-up is expected to comprise Stephanie Au Hoi-shun – in her fifth Olympics – Camille Cheng Lily-mei, Natalie Kan Cheuk-tung and Tam Hoi-lam.
And in gymnastics, Shek Wai-hung goes in men’s vault qualifying at 9.30pm.
Football: Argentina v Iraq
It has already been an eventful Olympics for Argentina’s men’s footballers.
Their first game in Saint-Etienne was suspended after Morocco fans invaded the pitch in protest against a late Argentina goal. That came in the 16th minute of added time, with a final three minutes played in an empty stadium two hours later – after the goal had been overturned by VAR. Morocco won 2-1.
Argentina coach Javier Mascherano labelled that “a scandal” and “a circus”, but more was to come. It emerged afterwards that Argentina reported thefts of personal items from their training centre before the match.
Their second group B fixture against Iraq at 9pm on Saturday surely cannot top that for drama. Or can it?


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Vivian Kong starts Hong Kong’s hunt for medals in the épée fencing competition. Photo: FIE

Hong Kong’s Vivian Kong (left) goes into the Paris Games ranked world No 1. Photo: Handout

Antoine Dupont of France scores a try to round off the quarter-final victory over Argentina. Photo: EPA-EFE

Stephanie Au (right), Natalie Kan (second right) and Tam Hoi-lam (left) swim in Saturday’s relay. Photo: EPA-EFE

While you were sleeping: 5 things to know from the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

 The cauldron, with the Olympic flame lit, lifts off while attached to a balloon during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris  Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

US’ singer Lady Gaga played an early part in the opening ceremony. Photo: AFP

French former football player Zinedine Zidane (left) takes the Olympic flame from the masked man. Photo: AFP

Members of the Hong Kong take pictures during opening ceremony. Photo: Reuters

Cheung Ka-long’s role in Paris Olympics ceremony a good omen in Hongkonger’s history bid

Hong Kong’s Olympic flag bearer Cheung Ka-long is looking to make history in Paris and defend his title. Photo: Elson Li

Cheung Ka-long (right) was asked only one question by Greg Koenig about carrying the flag. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong’s Olympic delegation leaves the city en route to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games. Photo: Sam Tsang

Paris Olympics: who has won Games medals for Hong Kong, and where are they now?

Lee Lai-shan holds up the Hong Kong flag after winning the territory’s first Olympic medal, a sailing gold, at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Lee Lai-shan waves after winning the women’s mistral class gold medal in the waters off Savannah, Georgia. Photo: Reuters

Lee, pictured here at the Happy Valley Racecourse in 2016, is now a full-time mother of two daughters. Photo: Sam Tsang

Cheung Ka-long became Hong Kong’s second Olympic gold medallist. Photo: Reuters

Cheung made history again in 2022 by winning Hong Kong’s first men’s World Cup gold medal – in Paris. Photo: FIE

Li Ching and Ko Lai Chak on their way to a silver medal in the men’s doubles at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Photo: Reuters

Siobhan Haughey in Tokyo became the first Hong Kong athlete to win more than one Olympic medal in any sport. Photo: Getty Images

Retired Olympic medallist Sarah Lee Wai-sze at a charity event in Tsim Sha Tsui last October. Photo: Dickson Lee

Grace Lau hugs Turkey’s Dilara Bozan after winning their bronze-medal match at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Reuters

Minnie Soo (centre), flanked by Lee Ho-ching (right) and Doo Hoi-kem celebrate after winning their bronze medal match against Germany in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

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Hong Kong

China tipped for Games’ first gold, Hong Kong’s Vivian Kong targets épée fencing podium and rugby’s Antoine Dupont aims to dethrone Fiji


China tipped for Games’ first gold, Hong Kong’s Vivian Kong targets épée fencing podium and rugby’s Antoine Dupont aims to dethrone Fiji.
