Internet swimming sensation Fu Yuanhui could be invited to Hong Kong as part of the national Olympics team's three-day visit later this month. Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, deputy secretary-general of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, said only gold medalists were invited in past visits after the Games because the team would be too large if all medalists came.
Likely to visit Hong Kong will be swimming star Sun Yang, Wu Minxia, the five-time diving gold medalist, divers Shi Tingmao, Chen Ruolin and Liu Huixia, and Zhang Mengxue, winner of the women's 10-meter air pistol event.
China had won 10 gold medals in the Rio Olympics up to yesterday.
But a special invitation could be extended to Fu, the 20-year-old from Hangzhou who won bronze in the 100-meter backstroke but became an overnight internet sensation after shrugging off failure with funny faces.
"It's the national team which decides who should come, but we will suggest to the mainland to have Fu come on behalf of the citizens," Fok said.
It has been confirmed that the national team will come to Hong Kong on August 26 and will go to Macau on August 29.
During the visit, the athletes will tour Hong Kong for sports performances, such as diving, badminton and table tennis, and will also have close contact with citizens.
But the extravaganza could be held at the 3,500-seat Queen Elizabeth Stadium, compared to the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium where Olympians were feted in 2008 and 2012.
Source: The Standard