10-7-2023 (HONG KONG) The decision to allow 500 Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in this year’s Asian Games has been met with mixed reactions in Hong Kong. While accepting that they had no choice in the matter, local officials questioned the move, fearing that it could ultimately come at the expense of Hong Kong athletes. Athletes from the two European nations will have to compete in Hangzhou as neutrals and cannot win medals, but they will be able to earn points towards qualifying for the Paris Olympics next year.
Hong Kong Olympic Committee President Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, who was reelected as a vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), said they accepted the decision in principle but would need more information from organizers in Hangzhou. Committee Chief Executive Abraham Cheng Kwok-hung agreed that the devil would be in the detail, especially in sports that involve knock-out elements, such as fencing or judo.
“In events like fencing, if our athletes were drawn against a Russian player and lost, they would be out of the competition,” he said. “Compare that to another athlete who only draws against Asian players, we don’t think this is fair. There needs to be more details before we find out how to deal with it.”
Wong Po-kee, Chairman of the city’s judo association, was more stringent in his objections, stating that there was “no way” athletes from two countries considered pariahs over the invasion of Ukraine should “come to the Asian Games to compete with Asian athletes.” With judo in Hangzhou being a crucial part of the qualification process for next year’s Olympics, Wong feared the presence of Russian athletes who have a history of winning gold at the highest level could damage the chances of Asia’s best.
Tennis player Eudice Chong, who is eyeing an Asian Games medal to help the sport stay as a Tier A program at the city’s Sports Institute, was also against the decision, pointing to the fact that the ATP and WTA Tours already provide a pathway for Olympic qualification.
While there was no outright support, cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing said there were both “advantages and disadvantages” to the OCA’s decision. Swimming Association President Ronnie Wong Man-chiu said they would not mind swimmers from the two countries taking part, emphasizing the importance of keeping sports free of politics.
