The SF&OC cooperated with the Hong Kong Design Institute by inviting their students to design the mascot for the Hong Kong, China delegation with the theme “Supporting Hong Kong Athletes to Compete in the Hangzhou Asian Games”.
The response was overwhelming and it was Rock, a lion mascot designed by Joey Poon Cho Ying, a 21-year-old higher diploma student in Advertising Design at the Department of Communication Design, that emerged from more than 60 outstanding designs received.
Mr. Kenneth K.K. Fok, Vice President of SF&OC and Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China delegation to the Hangzhou Asian Games, said: “Hong Kong will send the largest ever delegation to participate in the coming Asian Games.
“To show our strong support and cheer for our athletes, while also encouraging young people to unleash their creativity and participate in this sports event, SF&OC cooperated with the Hong Kong Design Institute last year to invite a group of students to put forward design proposals of a mascot.
“The best works were selected to become the new mascot of Team Hong Kong, China. I am delighted to say the designs we received were really great, unfolding a perfect combination of sports and culture.”
Poon’s award-winning design is a lion mascot, named Rock, born with the DNA of the Lion Rock spirit. Rock shares the same characteristics as Hong Kong athletes, who always demonstrate perseverance and dedication, rise to difficulties and challenges with positivity and optimism and do not easily give up.
“Lion Rock is the landmark of Hong Kong, which represents the household name of Lion Rock spirit, and that is why I took Lion Rock as a blueprint,” Poon said.
“In order to present the uniqueness of Rock, I made his hair hard as a rock rather than having some shaggy and loose hair. Rock’s hair style shows the toughness like the Lion Rock itself, and echoes perfectly well with the perseverance of athletes.”
The Hangzhou Asian Games will be held from 23 September to 8 October 2023. There will be 40 sports, 61 disciplines and 483 events.
Hong Kong, China is expected to send its biggest-ever delegation to Hangzhou with over 860 athletes, and the entire delegation boasting over 1,200 personnel.
To encourage public support and active participation from members of the public in the Hangzhou Asian Games, SF&OC also launched on its YouTube and social media pages the “Road to Hangzhou” video series featuring exclusive interviews with athletes and the delegation. The channel will continue to bring members of the public rich and comprehensive information on Hangzhou Asian Games throughout the Games period.
The mascot launch ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Thursday evening before the SF&OC annual dinner. A total of HKD 1,377,060 was presented to 35 National Associations in incentive awards and junior incentive awards for 2022 when Hong Kong won 59 gold, 53 silver and 72 bronze medals.
Members of China’s women’s volleyball team and local athletes attended the press conference to introduce Rock.
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