Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in Hong Kong
The Olympic Torch Relay is one of the most important events of the Olympic Games. It was a great honour for Hong Kong to be chosen as one of the 122 international cities playing host to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay and to be the first stop on Chinese soil, welcoming back the Olympic Flame after its global journey across five continents. The Department worked hand in hand with the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) and the relevant government bureaux/departments and organisations to prepare for this memorable event.
The Olympic Torch Relay in Hong Kong was held on May 2, 2008 and lasted for about eight hours. Its starting point was the Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, and finished at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai. The Olympic Flame was carried to different parts of Hong Kong by 119 torchbearers who spread the Olympic spirit on foot and via various modes of transport, including dragon boat, horse, golf cart and motor vessel. It passed through major landmarks and scenic spots, showcasing to the world Hong Kong's beautiful scenery and vibrancy.
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Olympic windsurfing gold medallist Lee Lai-shan receiving the torch from Chief Executive Mr Donald Tsang at the start of the Hong Kong leg of the Olympic Torch Relay on May 2, 2008. |
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The Olympic Flame was carried to different parts of Hong Kong by 119 torchbearers via various modes of transport, including dragon boat, horse, golf cart and motor vessel. |
Throughout the preparation for and staging of the event, we witnessed the team spirit of all of the collaborating parties and the fervent support of the public, which contributed to the Relay's success. The statue of an enlarged Olympic Torch was erected at the Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in memory of the event, and it has become a scenic spot that attracts both local and overseas visitors.
Beijing 2008 Olympic Live Sites in Hong Kong
Hong Kong had the privilege of co-hosting the Olympic Equestrian Events and thus became an Olympic city. To create a positive and festive atmosphere for the Games, the Department set up three official Olympic and Paralympic Live Sites to allow the public to share in the joy and fun. The Victoria Park and Sha Tin Park Olympic Live Sites were open to the public throughout the Beijing Olympic Games from August 8 to 24, 2008, and the Paralympic Live Site at Sha Tin Park was open from September 6 to 7 and 13 to 14, 2008. Over a hundred thousands people participated in a great variety of activities offered at these sites and enjoyed the Olympic atmosphere, with some 150 performing groups and 5 000 performers taking part in the events. The Department worked closely with BOCOG and the relevant government departments/organisations to prepare for the Olympic Live Sites.
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Three Beijing 2008 Olympic Live Sites were set up in Hong Kong to create a positive and festive atmosphere for the public to share in the joy and fun. |
Free Admission Scheme for Use of Leisure Facilities
To support the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, encourage the public to exercise regularly and promote community sports with a view to improving the public's quality of life, the LCSD launched a Free Admission Scheme to a number of normally fee-charging leisure facilities under its management from July 1 to September 30, 2008. The Scheme was well-received, attracting about 12.9 million people during the three-month period, with a daily attendance of around 140 000.
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Members of the public enjoy free admission to a holiday camp as part of the LCSD Leisure Facilities' Free Admission Scheme, which lasted from July 1 to September 30, 2008 in support of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. |
Sports Demonstrations and Extravaganza by Mainland Olympic Gold Medallists
A 93-member delegation from the Chinese National Team, including 63 athletes who had won gold medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, visited Hong Kong from August 29 to 31, 2008. During their stay, these gold medallists gave badminton, table tennis, diving and gymnastics demonstrations at a number of LCSD venues, and a gala show with a live broadcast was also organised at the Hong Kong Stadium. These programmes were well received by the general public with more than 5 500 and 34 000 spectators attending the demonstration sessions and the gala show, respectively.
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A beautiful performance by one of the visiting Mainland Olympic gold medallists, Cheng Fei, during a gymnastics demonstration at Queen Elizabeth Stadium. |
