Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Hong Kong athletes to quarantine for seven days upon their return from the Games
- The protocol is a boost for local athletes who intend to compete at the China National Games in September
- Chef de Mission Pui says there’s a risk attending the Games under the pandemic, but believes Tokyo organisers would do their best to protect all participants
Hong Kong Olympians returning from the Tokyo Games will require seven days of quarantine, paving the way for them to take part in the China National Games in September.
Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong delegation to Tokyo, Pui Kwan-kay, said on Tuesday they had already secured approval from the government for this arrangement. Pui said they are negotiating a better deal with the government whereby athletes would be allowed to spend their quarantine in their training headquarters at the Sport Institute.
“In fact, we are trying to see if it is possible for the Sports Institute athletes to stay in the elite training centre for quarantine so they do not have to stop their preparations for the National Games.”
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Upon completion of the track cycling Nations Cup in May, Hong Kong team riders, led by Sarah Lee Wai-sze, were required to spend 14 days quarantine in a hotel. But after negotiating with the government, they were allowed to quarantine at the training centre in Fo Tan and thereby continue their training through designated transport to the velodrome in Tseung Kwan O.
Pui said there was a potential risk taking part in the Olympics under the pandemic, but he reckons Tokyo organisers would do their best to ensure the safety of all participants.
“We will ask our athletes to try to minimise contact with other people during the Olympic Games and there should be less social gatherings [inside the Athletes’ Village] compared from previous Games,” he said. “We know the Tokyo Games would be different because of the pandemic and everyone must adhere to the safety measures.”
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Reports have suggested that all athletes would be required to test for Covid-19 on a daily basis and a health officer would be assigned to each of the delegations to enforce the safety rules.
The 14th China National Games will take place in Shaanxi province from September 15-27 with its capital city Xian staging athletics, swimming, gymnastics, badminton, basketball and fencing. Hong Kong sent a squad of 284 athletes to the last National Games in Tianjin in 2017, taking part in 21 sports out of 33.
Hong Kong’s final squad to the Shaanxi Games have yet to be announced by the government but all major sports have submitted their nomination to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for approval.
