Hong Kong, China, July 19, 2023: The Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China launched their 2023/24 SF&OC Greater Bay Area Youth Sports Exchange Programme on Wednesday, July 19 for a four-day visit in Guangzhou and Foshan.
The programme is organised by the SF&OC and supported by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government, along with the Sports Bureau of Guangdong Province and its associated organisations.
The delegation is led by SF&OC Vice President Dr. David T. Y. Mong and comprises over 90 members including young athletes, coaches and team leaders from table tennis, hockey and water polo.
They will take part in sports exchange activities, joint training and friendly matches alongside athletes from Guangdong Province.
Dr. Mong said: “In the past three years, this exchange programme was suspended due to the pandemic. This year, upon the resumption of physical exchange activities, we received a very enthusiastic response from the participants. We are also thankful for the support and coordination by the HKSAR Government and Guangdong Province.
“We hope that, through sports exchange activities, we jointly promote the cooperation between the sports sectors of Guangdong and Hong Kong, strengthen the interactions between young athletes of the two places, and eventually reach a higher level of achievements together in the sporting arena.”
Two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and Chair of the Chinese Judo Association, Ms. Xian Dongmei, has been invited by the Sports Bureau of Guangdong Province to share with the delegation her sports experience and athletic career with the aim to inspire young athletes.
During the third and fourth day of the programme, the delegation will visit various sports facilities and cultural attractions in Guangzhou and Foshan, including the Tianhe Sports Center which hosted the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, and the Museum of Guangzhou Asian Games and Guangzhou Asian Para Games, to learn about the facilities required for large-scale sports games, and have a better understanding of the sports infrastructure and culture of the cities in the Greater Bay Area.
The 2023/24 SF&OC Greater Bay Area Youth Sports Exchange Programme will arrange its next visit in August 2023 to Guangzhou and Nansha.
Issued by: The Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. Date: 19 July 2023
