Amber rain warning fails to dampen Olympic spirit

The wet weather amid the amber rainstorm warning did not stop some 3,000 people from participating at yesterday's 2023 Olympic Day, where Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the government will promote Hong Kong as a sports city.

The Olympic Day has been held annually by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China since 1987 to commemorate the formation of the International Olympic Committee 128 years ago and to promote Olympism.

This year's event took place in West Kowloon Cultural District in-person, after being held virtually for three years during the pandemic.

Chan said that the SAR can be developed into a sports city, which would attract visitors and boost the economy.

"Sports can promote physical and psychological health, as well as strengthen the sense of togetherness and bring positive energy to society," he said. "Large-scale, high-profile sporting events can attract tourists and enhance our economy.

Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, president of SF&OC, added: "I am delighted to see participants fully engaging in the event and am moved by their passion for sports."

The organizer also invited a number of athletes to share the joy of sport at the event, including distance runners Virginia Lo Ying-chiu and Wong Kai-lok, table tennis player Ho Kwan-kit and rugby player Salom Yiu Kam-shing.

Yiu encouraged young local rugby players to participate in the upcoming Asian Games, saying it would make him "proud."

The Olympic Day event featured a three kilometer individual run and a 1km family fun run, along with the Hangzhou Asian Games fun run, in light of the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games in September.

Commissioner of Customs and Excise Louise Ho Pui-shan joined in the family fun run, alongside 50 customs officers and their families.

In addition to the running event, a free sports carnival was also featured - one of the Happy Hong Kong campaign events.

Meanwhile, in Wuxi, Jiangsu province in mainland China, Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai won a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Fencing Championships on Saturday, while Low Ho-tin bagged a bronze.

Kong snatched the crown in the women's epee individual event by defeating South Korea's Sera Song and won the game at 15:4. It is her third gold at the championships, as she previously won in 2018 and 2022.

Low was defeated by Iranian fencer Ali Pakdaman but he was still able to grab the bronze in the men's sabre individual event.

"We are very encouraged by [Kong and Low's] performances and proud of Hong Kong fencers for their repeated success at international competitions," said Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism.