From Paris Olympics to HK: A celebration of sportsmanship and community

The Paris Olympic National Team delegation arrived in Hong Kong today (August 29) to kick off a three-day visit. The delegation's flight landed at Hong Kong International Airport around noon, where a welcome ceremony was held on the tarmac.

The much-anticipated national champions, including Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha, Pan Zhanle, and Quan Hongchan, were among those who arrived, making the airport a star-studded venue.

The delegation members will stay at the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui, where security has been noticeably heightened outside the hotel, with police officers stationed nearby.

Eric Chan, Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong, expressed pride in the national team's achievements at the Paris Olympics, noting that the athletes demonstrated extraordinary skills and sportsmanship and highlighted the country's strong capabilities in sports development.

He continued by stating that since Hong Kong's return to motherland, every Olympic delegation has been arranged to visit after each Games, marking this as the seventh such visit. This underscores the nation's concern for the Special Administrative Region and reflects the deep emotional ties between the two places. Over the next three days, the delegation will participate in a series of activities, engaging with the community, students, citizens, and elite athletes in Hong Kong. He looks forward to the exciting performances of the national team athletes.

Around 11:30 AM today, barriers were set up outside the hotel, with police cars stationed nearby and officers on alert. The police have intensified patrols in the area, stopping suspicious individuals to check their belongings. Additionally, hotel staff have been deployed outside to maintain order, preventing non-guests from entering the hotel and requiring anyone entering or exiting to show their room key. The hotel arranged for those waiting outside to gather in a designated "fan zone" to avoid chaos, with staff directing the crowd to remain in the designated area.

As the crowd outside the hotel grew, many citizens gathered to await the arrival of the national team athletes. Police presence in the area increased, with traffic officers monitoring the nearby roads. Officers were also stationed at the pedestrian tunnel across from the hotel, and barriers were set up along the road to minimize crowd gatherings.

Related News:

Warm welcome: Paris Olympic national team's whirlwind visit to HK