HK to Send 59-Strong Delegation to Sydney Olympics

HK to Send 59-Strong Delegation to Sydney Olympics

A 59-strong Hong Kong, China Olympic delegation, including 30 athletes and 29 officials, was announced Wednesday in Hong Kong.

This is the first time for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), after its return to its motherland in 1997, to send a team to Olympics.

"I am confident that Hong Kong athletes are able to do their best in next month's Sydney Olympic Games," said Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.

All 30 athletes have contributed tremendous hard work to qualify for the Olympics, Fok noted, adding "I am sure they will all try their best in Sydney to gain the best possible results."

The HKSAR will participate in eight sports -- athletics, badminton, cycling, rowing, swimming (including diving), table tennis, windsurfing and shooting.

Windsurfing Queen Lee Lai-shan, who won Hong Kong's first ever Olympic gold medal in Atlanta four years ago, is the major medal hope of the team.