CE praises HK athletes’ ‘extraordinary capability’

The Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, has paid tribute to SAR’s record breaking performance at the Tokyo Olympics after Hong Kong athletes finished with one gold medal, two silvers, and three bronze in five sports – its highest ever Olympic haul.

Track cycling star Sarah Lee won bronze in the sprint competition on the final day, to become the first local athlete to win medals at two Olympic Games.

Lam said in a statement that the athletes had displayed the “extraordinary capability of Hong Kong” by achieving the city’s best results in history”.

“We are moved by the courage and perseverance of all the athletes in competitions, with a number of them breaking Hong Kong records or their own records,” she said.

“Hong Kong athletes’ performances have made Hong Kong people feel proud,” she said, noting that the public had cheered athletes “no matter whether they were at home, at work, in the malls or even on the streets, giving athletes spiritual support”.

Lam also praised the work of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and the national sports associations.

She said she hoped that the SAR athletes’ performance in Tokyo would give new impetus to Hong Kong’s sports development, encouraging more enterprises and members of the public to support local athletes and motivating more people to do exercise.