John Lee hands Hong Kong flag to Asian Games delegation, praises athletes' never-say-die spirit
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led a flag handover ceremony at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin on Tuesday for Hong Kong's 800-strong delegation heading to this month's Asian Games in Japan, telling athletes their "never-say-die spirit" was the best reflection of their home.
Key Points
- Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu presided over the flag handover ceremony at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin on September 1, 2026
- Hong Kong is sending an 800-strong delegation including 580 athletes to compete in 38 sports at the Nagoya Asian Games from September 19 to October 4
- Lee praised athletes' "perseverance and never-say-die spirit," saying it transcends language and cultural boundaries and showcases Hong Kong's confidence and soft power
- The 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games saw a record 681 Hong Kong competitors win 53 medals: 8 gold, 16 silver, and 29 bronze
- Chef de mission Wong Po-kee will lead the delegation; the two flagbearers for the opening ceremony are still being selected
- Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui accompanied Lee at the ceremony
Why It Matters
With Hong Kong's gold medal haul already matching its previous best performances in 2010 and 2018, this delegation faces the dual challenge of a smaller team and fewer sports compared to the Hangzhou Games, making the selection of representative flagbearers and the athletes' performance a test of whether the city can build on its historic success while demonstrating its evolving sporting strength .
With Hong Kong's gold medal haul already matching its previous best performances in 2010 and 2018, this delegation faces the dual challenge of a smaller team and fewer sports compared to the Hangzhou Games, making the selection of representative flagbearers and the athletes' performance a test of whether the city can build on its historic success while demonstrating its evolving sporting strength .