Tougher rules for overseas-bound sports teams

Local sports associations must collect a toolkit containing hard copies of the national anthem and regional flags for international sports events and sign an acknowledgment receipt, according to the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.

The committee also updated its guidelines to prevent incorrect versions of the national anthem being played again at international events.

Associations must collect the toolkit from the committee every time before setting off for international events, it said.

Associations are required to provide event organizers with the official link of the national anthem recording before departure and pass them the hard copy - on a computer disk or USB - and ask them to sign the acknowledgment receipt during the event.

"In anticipation that the national anthem will be played and the regional flag raised, the team leader must check on-site with the event organizer to ensure that the correct versions will be used," the new guidelines state.

"If the organizer refuses to let the team leader perform the check, the team leader must not allow team members to attend the sports events or awards presentation ceremonies until the checking is acceded to and completed."

If a wrong anthem is played or an incorrect flag is raised, the leader of the team should report the incident to the association "at the earliest opportunity," the guidelines state. "The chairperson shall then report to the designated contact person of SF&OC within two hours by phone, followed by a brief written report on the next working day after the incident," the committee said. More than 230 sports association representatives attended a briefing session on the guidelines held by the committee.

The amended guidelines came three months after a 2019 anti-fugitive protest song was played in place of The March of the Volunteers at the Ice Hockey World Championship on February 28 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After a special meeting on May 18, the committee decided to issue a stern written reprimand to the Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association and said it would revise the guidelines for Hong Kong sports institutes to "follow the rules."

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com