Hong Kong, Harbin sign deal to help ‘snowless city’ win medals at future Asian Winter Games
Agreement between SF&OC and Heilongjiang Sports Federation, Harbin Sport University to cover training resources, facilities and opportunities
Little more than a month after Hong Kong sent their largest contingent ever to an Asian Winter Games, officials have signed an agreement with their counterparts in Harbin to help the “snowless city” win a medal at the multi-sports event in the future.
The Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Heilongjiang Sports Federation and Harbin Sport University that covered joint training sessions, sharing expertise, talent development and cultural exchanges.
Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, staged the ninth edition of the regional Games in February. Hong Kong sent athletes to compete in curling, speed skating, figure skating, skiing and ice hockey.
Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chui and Xu Qin, secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party, took part in the signing ceremony, alongside Yin Zhonghua, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Xu Xiangguo, secretary general of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party; Edgar Yang, honorary secretary general of SF&OC; and Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, SF&OC vice-president and chairman of the Hong Kong Olympic Academy.
In a statement announcing the move, Yang highlighted the success Heilongjiang had in developing Winter Olympic gold medallists.