A delegation of 65 athletes and eight coaches from the Chinese mainland who participated in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris held a press conference in south China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday.
The Olympians, who competed in 16 sports and secured 59 gold medals, are on a three-day visit to Hong Kong before heading to Macao Special Administrative Region on Saturday. The visit aims to foster closer ties and encourage exchange between the athletes and the Hong Kong community.
“This is my first time visiting Hong Kong as a member of the Chinese mainland delegation,” said Fan Zhendong, the men’s singles table tennis champion. “I’m very happy about it. I want to, together with the delegation, have friendly and close communication and interaction with all circles of Hong Kong.”
Zhang Yufei, who earned one silver and five bronze swimming medals at the Paris Games, shared her fondness for the city. “I’m quite familiar with Hong Kong,” she said. “When I came to compete, I often went to eat local cuisines like har gow (crystal shrimp dumplings) and cha siu bao.”
Chinese table tennis team captain Ma Long expressed his gratitude for the warm reception. “It’s an honor for me to visit Hong Kong for the fourth time as a member of the Chinese mainland delegation,” he told reporters.
Quan Hongchan, the women’s 10-meter platform diving gold medalist, offered words of inspiration. “If you have something you love, go for it and don’t be afraid,” she said at the press conference. “I want to thank everyone for liking me.”
The athletes’ visit includes a series of interactive events with local residents, aiming to inspire young people and strengthen the bond between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
