Winter Olympics: Hong Kong’s plans for a top-class ice rink ‘a gift’ and ‘leap forward’, short-track speedskaters say

‘It’s definitely worth the investment and shows other countries … we are still able to produce world-class winter athletes,’ says Beijing Games competitor Chu

‘Skaters could actually reach the speeds they need to perform at and it would make training much more accessible’, says Hong Kong’s first Winter Olympian Ren

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Hong Kong short-track speedskater Sidney Chu in a training session before the Beijing Winter Olympic Games men’s 500m short-track event at the Capital Indoor Stadium. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:15am, 18 Feb 2022Updated: 12:27am, 19 Feb 2022

Hong Kong Olympic short-track speed skater Sidney Chu shared his delight and relief after learning of the government’s plans to build its first international standard ice skating rink.

Following Team Hong Kong’s last competition at the Beijing Games, chef de mission Karl Kwok Chi-leung revealed plans for a rink in Pak Shek, Tai Po while also boasting the Hong Kong Sports Federation and Olympic Committee’s “communication with relevant ice and snow project leaders” in China.

Though there is no fixed timeline for construction or completion, Chu, who finished 24th in the men’s 500m event at the Capital Indoor Stadium last week, is keen to help prepare a grass roots-level conveyor belt in a city that has traditionally overlooked ice- or snow-based sports.

“I was like ‘damn, what has been coming out of my mouth like a broken record for the past 10 years, and 20 years coming out of everybody else’s, is somewhat coming true’,” said the 22-year-old upon hearing the news from National Olympic Committee president Timothy Fok Tsun-ting on Wednesday.

(From left) Hong Kong Winter Olympians Sidney Chu, Adrian Yung Hau-tsuen, chef de mission Karl Kwok Chi-leung and Audrey King at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games at the Yanqing National Alpine Skiing Centre. Photo: HKSF&OC

“There were always rumours before, but never an actual government person who would really speak about this. It’s just great.”

While certain factions of the community will be raising their eyebrows at the prospect of a rink in suburban New Territories, Chu explained how symbolic it would be.