Mainland China’s Olympic champions wrapped up a three-day whirlwind trip to Hong Kong, leaving a lasting impression on fans with their acrobatic moves and heartfelt messages on chasing dreams and perseverance.
The 65-strong delegation bid farewell to the city on Saturday afternoon after taking part in two sports showcase events that lasted two hours as well as a sharing session with more than 100 young people at the Hong Kong Metropolitan University.
Table tennis top seed Sun Yingsha, one of the 10 Olympians who showed up at the sharing session, encouraged the young audience to have faith and keep pursuing their dreams.
“As a professional athlete, I have to face winning and losing every day, which I think is also the charm of competitive sports,” she said in her speech.
“Life is about being able to take up and let go … Victory and defeat are ordinary and temporary. Only the path to pursue your dreams is eternal.
“When we are in the most pain, it may also be the time when we grow the fastest. What doesn’t kill us will eventually make us stronger. Hopefully we can always hold faith in ourselves and persist a little longer even in the most painful times,” she added.
The world No 1 said she was aware the national flag on her uniform bore more importance than her name printed at the back, and shared that she observed that the standards of Hong Kong athletes had improved a lot, although she did not play against them during the trip.
She added she was impressed by the facilities and logistical support of the Hong Kong Sports Institute and hoped athletes from the city and the mainland could play with the common goal of representing the country.
Another fan favourite, diving gold medallist Quan Hongchan, made two flawless plunges from the 10-metre-high (33 feet) platform board at the Victoria Park swimming pool in Causeway Bay as she joined other aquatic stars in the morning demonstration session.
But the diving queen lamented in a poolside interview that she did not have enough time to explore Hong Kong on her own.
“I think [Hong Kong] is very fun,” she said. “Everywhere is fun!”
Asked by the event’s host if she herself had enjoyed the city, Quan replied: “Not yet.”
The athletes had been in the spotlight since landing at Hong Kong’s airport on Thursday and receiving a red-carpet welcome.
During the three-day visit, the delegation met local athletes, pupils and disciplined services personnel, and took part in a sightseeing harbour cruise, toured the Peak and showed off their music talent at a gala show held on Friday evening.
The Olympic athletes were met with enthusiasm in the city from start to finish, with large numbers of mainland and local fans waiting outside the delegation’s hotel and event venues, hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols outside the competition venues.
Enthusiastic cheering was heaped on the biggest stars as they dazzled with their skills, and Quan was again showered with her favourite turtle stuffed toys on the poolside.
Quan thanked her fans for their warm welcome and shared her tip for keeping a cool head despite her celebrity status.
“Mentality is the most important thing. Take it easy, be happy and don’t think too much,” the 17-year-old said. “Crowds are very passionate; many fans waited under the hot sun to see us, so I’m very grateful.”
Weightlifter Li Fabin, who defended his men’s 61kg gold medal title at the Paris Games, revealed that the experience in the French capital made him rethink his retirement.
“I felt a strong Olympic spirit at the Paris Games, which gave me the desire to continue participating in the next Olympics,” he said, adding that he would train again after recovering from his knee injury.
Badminton mixed doubles gold medallist Zheng Siwei said he found young Hong Kong players he met during the trip to be passionate and skilled.
“I hope they can pursue their dreams with all their might and wish them all the best,” he said. “Find a badminton player that you like and learn from them.”
Zheng shared a viral moment with shooting champion Sheng Lihao at a showcase event held earlier on the day at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai, as the latter’s awkward attempt to play badminton became a hot topic on mainland Chinese social media.
The session also included gymnastic demonstrations and table tennis games, including one between mainland legend Ma Long and Hong Kong’s Wong Chun-ting.
The two exhibition events held on Saturday morning were among the three occasions where the public could watch the visiting Chinese athletes in action. The authorities said earlier that a total of about 5,300 tickets were up for grabs for the gala show and the two showcases.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who attended a closed-door farewell lunch for the delegation, said in a social media post that the sports stars had brought Hong Kong an unforgettable experience and filled the city with a strong sports vibe.
The city leader also pledged to promote sports development in the city and encouraged sports associations to collaborate with their mainland counterparts.
“I hope the mainland and Hong Kong will continue to cooperate closely, thereby improving the technical level of athletes and bringing glory to the country,” Lee added.
The delegation crossed the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai Bridge on Saturday afternoon to begin their three-day tour in Macau, where they were received by 150 primary and secondary students. The athletes were expected to perform at a showcase event at the casino hub on Sunday.