Hong Kong to Debut at Winter Olympics

Home>>Sports

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 17, 2002

Hong Kong to Debut at Winter Olympics

Tiny but historical, the Hong Kong delegation will make its debut at Winter Olympic Games next month in Salt Lake City, the United States, officials told a press conference here on Wednesday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Tiny but historical, the Hong Kong delegation will make its debut at Winter Olympic Games next month in Salt Lake City, the United States, officials told a press conference here on Wednesday.

For the first time in history, ice skaters from this tropical island, where most residents do not see snowfalls in whole life, qualified for the 2002 Winter Olympics slated for February 8-24 in Salt Lake.

The five-person delegation will be headed by Timothy T. T Fok, the first International Olympic Committee number from the Hong Kong and the President of Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.

Tsoi Po Yee Cordia finished the 31th place in women's short track speed skating at the qualification round in Salt Lake on October 28 last year, and became the first Hong Kong athlete qualified for the Winter Olympic Game.

Tsoi will be joined by her teammate Ren Christy, also a high school student. "Anyone who reached top 32 of the qualifications is eligible for the Winter Olympics," said Lu Shuo, coach of the two skaters.

"Each of the top 32 finishers are allowed to team up with an additional player when competing at the Winter Olympics, according to the rules," said Lu.

The 26-year old Lu Shuo has been coaching the two girls for five years since he retired as a professional skater in Jilin province in the Chinese mainland, thousands of kilometers north away from Hong Kong.

"It is extremely difficult for Hong Kong to have a berth in the Winter Olympics since there has been no natural ice rinks in winters due to its hot weather. What makes it worse is that there is no any standard man-made ice rink either," said Lu.

"Our training rink is 1/3 smaller than a standard one. So I have to take my skaters back home to Changchun city, Jinlin, some times," said Lu.

The last number of Hong Kong delegation is Yip Siu Yin, who will serve as team manager.

Questions?Comments? Click here