Huo Qigang: Hong Kong sports cannot be separated from the country's support to better integrate into the Greater Bay Area through the National Games in 2025

Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, June 28 (Reporter Wei Yan) Hong Kong's 25th anniversary of the return of the motherland is approaching. Huo Qigang, vice president of the Hong Kong Sports Association and Olympic Committee, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. In addition to their own efforts, it is inseparable from the support given by the motherland for many years. He also hopes that by hosting the opportunity of the 2025 National Games, the sports industry in Hong Kong will be promoted to better integrate into the development of the Guangdong -Hong Kong -Macao Greater Bay Area.

On June 28, the large -scale outdoor screen in Macau showed the sentence "Hong Kong, Macau and Hong Kong." Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Jinjia Photo

Huo Qigang said that the Chinese Hong Kong team's achievements have continued to break through in recent years, and it is related to the SAR government's decision to put more resources to support sports 10 years ago. "The support of the country is also a big advantage. Since the return, the exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland are getting closer. Outstanding mainland athletes, coaches and related personnel are willing to come to Hong Kong to serve, which greatly improves the technical ability and competition level of Hong Kong athletes. Young athletes are trained in the Mainland to communicate with the national team first -class athletes. This is one of the reasons why the Chinese Hong Kong team's achievements are constantly breaking through. "Huo Qigang said.

Hong Kong's sports exchanges with the Mainland have been performed in different ways for many years. As one of the "Times Spirit Yao Xiangjiang" series of activities, at the end of last year, the Olympic athletes visited Hong Kong densely launched a variety of activities such as performances and media meetings, which pushed the "Olympic Fever" formed by Hong Kong during the Tokyo Olympics to a climax.

Since the return, the Chinese Olympic delegation has visited Hong Kong 6 times. Huo Qigang said that this shows the country's attention to Hong Kong. He was grateful to the athletes to spend time visiting Hong Kong in the busy schedule after each Olympic Games. Every time they come, they can cause a "star" boom.

"Although because of the epidemic relationship last year, the mainland Olympic athletes could not contact Hong Kong citizens at close range, but I believe they can feel the enthusiasm of Hong Kong citizens. Their visit not only condenses the hearts of the mainland and Hong Kong, but also inspire many Hong Kong citizens. National identity and pride. "

On December 4, 2021, the Mainland Olympic athlete delegation visited Hong Kong and his party entered the second day of the event. Chinese fencing player Sun Yiwen (front right) and Chinese Hong Kong fencing player Jiang Yan (front left) talked in the event. Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Binghui Photo

In addition, Huo Qigang said that Hong Kong cherishes the opportunity to co -organize the 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Competition. Now 14 years have passed, and Hong Kong still benefits from the "Olympic Heritage". He believes that in the process of co -organizing equestrian competitions, Hong Kong shows the world's ability to host international first -class events. At the same time, through the competition, Hong Kong also obtained valuable competition experience, which is very helpful to host the 2009 East Asian Games, and it will also be beneficial to holding large -scale competitions in Hong Kong.

The dividend brought by the Beijing Olympic Games is still continuing, and the arrival of the National Games is expected to become another "engine" in Hong Kong's sports development. In 2025, the 15th National Games will be held by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. This will be the first time in Hong Kong and Macau to participate in the National Games. It is also the first time that the Guangdong -Hong Kong -Macao Greater Bay Area has been a large -scale comprehensive sports event as a whole.

"I think Hong Kong should seize the opportunity of the National Games in 2025. In recent years, we should do more exchanges with sports as the main body. It is also necessary to encourage more sports industries to integrate into the Greater Bay Area and let the young people in Hong Kong pursue sports with sports. Contribute to the development point and contribute to the development of the Greater Bay Area. "

On June 17, as one of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong Outstanding Female Athlete Album Exhibition was held in Olympic Sea City, Hong Kong. Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Binghui Photo

Huo Qigang also hopes that the National Games will help strengthen the coordination mechanism of the entire Greater Bay Area and promote the process of sports industrialization. In this regard, he believes that Hong Kong can play an important role. "Hong Kong's sports scientific research is very advantageous. I hope this time is an opportunity to promote the industrialization of sports research. I believe that after the experience of the National Games, we can further serve sports elites around the world, so that people will think of sports scientific research when they talk about Hong Kong. "

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