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Winter Olympics: Hong Kong can ‘take advantage’ of China’s winter sports boom, chef de mission Karl Kwok says
- With Hong Kong’s first international-standard ice skating rink still in the works, Kwok targets more cross-border training and ‘snow sports tourism’
- ‘We have communicated with relevant ice and snow projects leaders to explore the possibility of future cooperation,’ says Kwok
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Hong Kong’s Beijing Winter Olympics chef de mission is confident the performances of his record-breaking athletes will improve integration with “our motherland” and “bring positive momentum” to local ice and snow sports projects.
Teasing a proposed ice rink to be built in Tai Po, Kark Kwok Chi-leung was proud of Hong Kong’s winter sports “breakthrough” as short-track speed skater Sidney Chu and Alpine skiers Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen and Audrey King wrapped up competitions this week.
But the trio had spent much of their Olympic-level preparations abroad as the city’s ice rinks remain limited and slopes non-existent – a perennial issue for its winter athletes. Add to that Hong Kong’s ever-changing Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and there is a genuine fear for athlete stagnation.

From Hong Kong’s first-ever 2002 Winter Olympic entrants Christy Ren and Cordia Tsoi, to Beijing’s overnight sensation flag-bearer Chu, skaters have often crossed the border to access international-standard facilities and training.
“At these Beijing Games, you could personally feel the investment of the motherland in winter sports, especially support with venues, manpower, and so on,” said Kwok, who leading up to the event demanded the record three athlete, 10 staff delegation “perform our best athletically and morally”.

“Taking this opportunity, we have communicated with relevant ice and snow projects leaders to explore the possibility of future cooperation.
“In future, we can expect our teams will have more training opportunities in the mainland and communication with its athletes, as we strengthen cooperation between China and Hong Kong, and bring positive momentum to sports development and athlete performance.”
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