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Paul McNamara

The chef de mission for Hong Kong’s Olympic Games delegation insisted it would be “inappropriate” to set medal targets for Paris this summer.
Of the 35 athletes who will represent the city in France, 26 are in receipt of Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) Tier-A* funding, worth between HK$44,500 and HK$50,000 (US$5,700 and US$6,400) each month. Another seven claim between HK$32,730 and HK$$38,540 as Tier-A-supported athletes.
In the decade up to the end of 2023, the government poured at least HK$7.4 billion into supporting Hong Kong athletes.
Nonetheless, Brian Stevenson said that specifying performance goals would put too much pressure on the city’s podium contenders.

Cheung Ka-long, who won gold in Tokyo three years ago, and the double silver medallist from those Games, Siobhan Haughey, are universally viewed as Hong Kong’s leading hopes for success.
“I honestly believe it’s inappropriate [to set a medal target],” Stevenson said.
“We know who we believe our medal hopes are, and they do too, so I don’t want to put too much pressure on them.
“Of course, all our athletes are top [quality], but we have a number of world champions … we can only hope that, on the day, they give their very best performance. But we all must recognise how highly competitive this is – it’s such an achievement to become an Olympian.”
Asked if the public money handed to Hong Kong athletes should be accompanied by minimum-performance expectations, Stevenson said: “I would be very comfortable to say, I expect all our athletes will give their best.

“If somebody breaks a world record and beats [a Hong Kong competitor], or something like that, there is nothing we can do about it.
“If athletes can match their best performances, or improve them, that’s good. We have 20 athletes making their Olympic debuts – who knows what they can do? Let’s not forget, when Ka-long won his gold in Tokyo, he was No 19 in the world.”
The Hong Kong athletes’ contingent in Paris has shrunk from the 46 who went to Japan, where the city’s team claimed six medals – double the number earned across 16 previous Games. Stevenson dismissed the idea that the reduced numbers represented a step backwards.
However, he acknowledged that he was disappointed that the men’s foil team, featuring Cheung, were victims of harsh qualifying rules.
The president of the local rugby union for 15 years until 2016, Stevenson also said it was a blow for the men’s sevens team to lose a final Olympic qualifier against Japan, the second successive Games when they had fallen at the last hurdle.
“They should have been there, and if the boys had made it, our team would have doubled in size,” Stevenson said.

Including coaches, medical staff and administrators, Hong Kong are taking a delegation of 77 to France. Among them is Si Gangyan, the senior sports psychologist from HKSI.
“We have a good number of psychologists [supporting athletes in France], but, sometimes, I don’t think we have enough,” Stevenson said. “They are very important in sport nowadays; the pressure when guys get to finals is enormous.
“How many times have our rugby guys lost at the very end, or in extra time? No doubt, they are looking at that.”
Stevenson, who has been a vice-president of the city’s Sports Federation & Olympic Committee since 2012, expects Hong Kong to name their flag bearers in the two days before the July 26 opening ceremony.
He described his role as taking care of everything in the competitors’ orbit, including medical care, security and transport, so “the athletes and coaches can just focus on the Games”.
On that theme, Stevenson welcomed news that air-conditioning had been arranged for the Hong Kong athletes’ Olympic Village accommodation.
“That was a top priority,” Stevenson said. “We have some very good athletes, and have to ensure we give them the very best. I don’t want them worrying about air-conditioning, or any other problem. They must have their minds completely on getting ahead.
“I’m hugely honoured to have this opportunity. I’ve had a lot of pressure in my life, and I believe I can handle this.”


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics: Hong Kong chief refuses to set medal goal, says it would be inappropriate

Siobhan Haughey is one of Hong Kong’s major medal hopes for the Paris Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

Brian Stevenson’s role is to ensure “athletes and coaches can just focus on the Games”. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

The star pairing of Cheung Ka-long and Siobhan Haughey led the way in Tokyo. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong’s men’s foil team won May’s World Cup but missed out on the Olympics. Photo: FIE

World No 1 Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong keen to ‘not let people down’ in Olympic medal quest

Vivian Kong insists she is better at handling pressure than when she went to previous Olympic Games.
Photo: Eva Pavía 

Vivian Kong (right) was forced to withdraw from her Asian Championships quarter-final bout. Photo: FIE

Vivian Kong is eager to not let down Hongkongers as she embarks on her Olympic medal quest. Photo: Elson Li

Paris Olympics: officials dangle HK$6 million gold carrot in front of Hong Kong athletes

Officials and athletes at the flag presentation ceremony for the Hong Kong delegation heading to the Paris Olympics. Photo: Eugene Lee

Edgar Yang, the honorary secretary general of the city’s Sports Federation and Olympic Committee, shares a moment with fencer Cheung Ka-long. Photo: Eugene Lee

Paris Olympics: Hong Kong cyclist Ceci Lee set for twin Games assault, Lau gets road race spot

Ceci Lee’s dominant Hong Kong Championship display secured her road race spot in Paris. Photo: Eugene Lee

Lee is fighting to overcome the self-doubt that is hampering her in the velodrome. Photo: Dickson Lee

Vincent Lau is concerned over the course length for his Olympic Games debut in Paris Photo: SF&OC.

Paris Olympics: Hong Kong medal hopeful Doo reveals she is battling elbow injury

Doo Hoi-kem (left) and mixed doubles partner Wong Chun-ting are ranked fourth in the world heading into the Paris Olympics. Photo: WTT

Doo Hoi-kem played in all four events at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Photo: HKTTA

Hong Kong table tennis women’s team (from left) Doo Hoi-kem, Lee Ho-ching and Minnie Soo pose with their bronze medals at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Photo: AFP

Paris Olympics 2024

Hong Kong

Sport

Despite some athletes getting up to HK$50,000 a month in public money, Brian Stevenson says having targets would put undue pressure on them


Despite some athletes receiving up to HK$50,000 a month in public money, Brian Stevenson says specifying targets would put undue pressure on them.


Hong Kong Sports Institute