Transcript of remarks by CE at media session before ExCo (with video)
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Reporter: Firstly, there has been a tradition for national Olympians visiting Hong Kong after the games, so will the athletes come to Hong Kong this year? Secondly what's your take on the news that some Western politicians and organisations are calling for a so-called boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in the name of supporting Hong Kong? And what messages do you have for the Hong Kong athletes who are in intensive training for the 2022 Beijing Games? Thank you.
Chief Executive: First of all, previously, after the Olympics, we were extremely happy to receive medallists from the Mainland to come to Hong Kong to share their experience and for us to personally congratulate our distinguished athletes. On this occasion, there is at present no plan. There's no plan, one is because of COVID-19 that all the athletes are now in quarantine, including our own. There's no plan also because immediately following the Tokyo Olympic Games will be the National Games in Shaanxi. Even our athletes, after quarantine, they will rush to the National Games. It will be a while before we can consider any celebration activities, any home welcoming or inviting Mainland Olympians to come to Hong Kong.
I think Mr Thomas Bach, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) President, has repeatedly said that sports is sports. One should not try to politicise sports. The spirit of Olympian is really to be stronger and, on this occasion, to come together, because fighting COVID-19 requires solidarity with every country and every government working in concert. I would really resist any idea or suggestion to use political boycotts on an occasion which should be promoting sports development, athletes' excellence and solidarity, and I hope nobody will join this so-called "call" to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics. I'm not sure if we have a lot of athletes contesting in the Beijing Olympics but we certainly will give them all the necessary support. In the coming three years, I am sure that our athletes will continue to shine in various international and regional competitions, including the Asian Games to be hosted in Hangzhou next year and also the Paris Olympics. I have announced this morning that we have a total of five measures to continue to devote resources to make new policies to support Hong Kong athletes.
Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Issued at HKT 14:49
Issued at HKT 14:49
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Audio / Video
CE meets the media