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HK looks to boost Asiad bid through performance in GZ

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-13 15:26
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HONG KONG - The Hong Kong's sports authority is looking forward to promote the 2023 Asian Games bid among the citizens through a good performance in the upcoming Guangzhou Games, the officials said here on Friday.

Hong Kong will send an ever largest delegation to the multi- sport games, with a total of 395 athletes and 152 team officials, to participate in 34 sports and 43 disciplines.

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Timothy Fok, the president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, said the Guangzhou Games would be " extremely special" for Hong Kong when addressing the flag presentation ceremony.

He told Xinhua that the Chief Executive of HKSAR Donald Tsang encouraged the delegation to do their best, adding a good performance may have positive effect on Hong Kong's potential bid of the 2023 Asian Games.

The Hong Kong government's public consultation on whether to bid for the 2023 Asian Games is to be concluded on Dec 1, just a few days after the Guangzhou Games to be staged on Nov 12 to 27.

Major disputes about the potential bid is the cost of running the Asian Games, one of the biggest sports events in the world.

Vivien Lau, Chef de Mission of Hong Kong, is also hoping to draw the city's attention and passion on sports.

"It has been almost a year since the East Asian Games in Hong Kong, thus many people might have nearly forgotten the passion then," she said. "I hope our athletes can perform well in Guangzhou so that our Hong Kong people would once again be very supportive in sports."

In the Doha Games in 2006, Hong Kong attained a record six gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals out of 28 sports.

Timothy Fok said it was a pressure but Guangzhou is like a " half home" for the Hong Kong athletes as many of the parents, friends and Hong Kong people may go to the nearby city to support the athletes on court.

According to Vivien Lau, windsurfing, squash, rowing, cycling, table tennis, badminton, wushu, swimming are the main medal hope of the HK Team while they also got a chance in the team events like cricket and rugby.