Olympians dazzle HK crowds with spectacular displays

On Saturday (Aug. 31), Olympians from the national team thrilled enthusiastic crowds in Hong Kong as a group of 65 mainland athletes concluded their three-day visit to the territory.

Diving and swimming events took place at the Victoria Park swimming pool, starting with a performance by synchronized swimming twins Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, which required entry tickets.

Among the divers was the crowd favorite Quan Hongchan, who was met with loud cheers. The 17-year-old had previously won gold in the women's individual and synchronized 10m platform events at the Paris Olympics.

Quan, who brought her beloved collection of turtle toys, greeted the audience in Cantonese and concluded her post-performance interview with the cheerful phrase: "Kung hei fat choy!"

Another diver, Chen Yiwen, who secured two gold medals at the Paris Games, also showcased her skills on the springboard.

"It's fun to present diving in this way; it's less formal than competitions," Chen remarked. "We aim to entertain and engage with everyone."

The pool demonstrations later turned playful, featuring a variety of quirky dives and fun jumps.

At Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai, athletes from various land-based sports captivated spectators with gymnastics, badminton, and table tennis displays.

Badminton mixed doubles champions Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong showcased their skills alongside women's doubles pair Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan, who also partnered with local athletes Lianne Yeung and Yeung Pui-lam for a friendly match.

Adding to the excitement, Sheng Lihao, who triumphed in the men's 10m air rifle event in Paris, also tried his hand at badminton.

The national team's clean sweep of gold medals in table tennis received enthusiastic applause from the audience.

A lucky spectator was chosen to compete against ping pong legend Ma Long, with women's singles champion Chen Meng assisting her.

The crowd was also treated to a breakdancing performance by bronze medalist Liu Qingyi, known as "671."

The demonstrations in Wan Chai concluded with a video message from Hong Kong's only two-time Olympic gold medalist, Edgar Cheung.

"It's rare to see so many world champions up close. Unfortunately, I'm not in Hong Kong to participate in this event," Cheung expressed.

Saturday's activities marked the conclusion of the national team's visit to Hong Kong before heading to nearby Macao.

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