bc magazine

Hong Kong Sevens 2021 Cancelled

World Rugby and the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) have cancelled the Hong Kong Sevens, rescheduled for 5-7 November, for the second year in a row.

The decision according to World Rugby, which seems understandable but also strange since the Singapore 7s will go ahead, was made after discussion with the HKRU and relevant Hong Kong government departments was based on the uncertainty regarding travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.

The date for the 2022 Hong Kong Sevens has been set for 1-3 April, just 239 days to go until rugby sevens action returns to its famous home.

Additional reporting, images: World Rugby

Virtual Skydive Over Hong Kong

Not sure what to do with your consumption vouchers? Drop $300 or more at Lok Fu Place and enjoy a free virtual skydive over Hong Kong.

As part of the mall’s August ‘Sportival‘ festival, as well as a free fitness bootcamp shoppers can enjoy a VR skydiving experience that offers a virtual flight from 10,000 feet. Glide over Victoria Harbour, steer through the sky and land in Lok Fu.

While in the area check out the Rooftop Republic urban farm for locally grown seasonal greens.

Free Tram Rides for a Week to Celebrate Olympic Success

As Hong Kong Tramways celebrated it’s new Guinness World Record – Hong Kong now has the world’s largest double-decker tram fleet, with 165 trams serving over 200,000 passengers every day. Managing Director Cyril Aubin said the tram operator wanted to celebrate the SAR’s Olympic success with the whole city, and announced a free week’s travel.

Aubin said the company had seen the MTR and KMB offer free rides to medallists. “But we thought $2.6 might be a bit offensive to the medallists.”

Nixon Cheung, Head of Commercial & Brand for HK Tramways, said the operator would need government approval for the free week, which he said would “hopefully” come in the last quarter of 2021.

Siobhan Haughey Wins Silver in 200m Freestyle!

Siobhan Bernadette Haughey won Hong Kong’s first Olympic swimming medal by taking silver in the 200m freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – Chapeau!

After making history by becoming the first Hong Kong swimmer to make an Olympic final, Haughey looked set for gold before Australia’s Ariarne Titmus chased her down in the final metres.

“My achievement, coupled with Cheung Ka-long in fencing, can inspire other Hong Kong athletes who are here in Tokyo, and ‘add oil’ to them,” Haughey said after the race.

“I would like to thank my coaches in Hong Kong and the United States, and also my dad and mum, without them I would not be having such an achievement,” added the silver medal winner “Those swimmers back home – continue to train hard and you will be the next.”

This is the first time Hong Kong has won multiple medals at an Olympic games.

updated quotes

Edgar Cheung Ka Long Wins Gold

Edgar Cheung Ka Long stands on the podium to collect his GOLD medal in the foil competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – Chapeau.

Cheung fought really hard to get there, facing 6 match points in his quarterfinal but made victory in the final look simple beating defending champion Italian Daniele Garozzo 15-11.

“I just tried to talk to myself, I’m nothing against him. This is the Olympic champion, the (former) world champion. I’m nobody, I just keep fighting until the end,” Cheung said after his bout.

This is only Hong Kong’s second-ever gold medal after Lei Lai San’s windsurfing gold in 1996, and only the fourth ever!

“The reaction in Hong Kong has been insane,” Cheung said at a news conference. “It means a lot to show to the world we can do it, we’re not only a city, we can fight for victory,”

updated: to add quote

Beyond Sad

What does it say about Hong Kong to the rest of the world when Lam’s administration cannot even provide team shirts to all our Olympic athletes?

Not that you’d know it, but on one of the greatest days of his life, this is Angus Ng in a plain black emblem free shirt competing at the Tokyo Olympics for Hong Kong.

Ng was massively abused online by many pro-Beijing politicians including Nicholas Muk for not being ‘patriotic’. Only for Muk and others to find that they the politicians had made it illegal under the Regional Flag and Regional Emblem Ordinance (A602) for Ng as an unsponsored athlete to display or wear the Hong Kong emblem unless authorised by Carrie Lam… Who hasn’t (apparently) given permission for all our amazing athletes to wear the Bauhinia.

Beyond sad!

Update: Nicholas Muk’s Facebook page has been apparently been deleted, without an apology made to Ng

Tsuen Wan Waterfront Cycle Track Opens

The 2.3 kilometre-long Tsuen Wan Waterfront Cycle Track is now fully open. Running from Tsuen Wan Riviera Park to Bayview Garden the path forms part of the 82km New Territories Cycle Track Network.

The new track as the name suggests runs along the waterfront and offers panoramic views of the Rambler Channel and Tsing Yi and connects to venues such as Tsuen Wan Riviera Park, Tsuen Wan Park and Tsuen Wan Sports Centre. Among the ancillary facilities along the route is a cycle practise area for those new to two wheels.

Check out the full New Territories Cycle Track Network at www.ntctn.hk. The route of the Tsuen Wan waterfront section has been uploaded to the HKeMobility app.

Hong Kong Women and Men Unbeaten at Olympic Repechage

On the first full day of the World Rugby Olympic Sevens Repechage Hong Kong’s women and men were unbeaten.

Hong Kong will play unbeaten France in both competitions on Sunday to decide who will top the pools and their respective knock-out round opponents.

Salom Yui Kam Shing scored two tries as Hong Kong’s men opened their repechage campaign with a 31-5 defeat of Jamaica in Pool B.

In their second match, the men trailed Chile by eight points with little more than two minutes remaining. But late tries from Shing, Russell Webb and Alex McQueen secured a 26-15 victory.

Results of the men’s competition here

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/2021-06-20-Olympic-7s-Repechage-Monaco-/i-dKZz7xN

Hong Kong’s women began their Pool C campaign with a comfortable 31-10 win over Colombia – which featured a Chong Ka Yan hat-trick – but they found things much tougher against Madagascar, recovering from 12-0 down to win 19-12.

Results of the women’s competition here

The Olympic men’s rugby sevens competition will take place from 26-28 July, with the women’s tournament following on 29-31 July. All the action will take place at Tokyo Stadium, which hosted the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2019.

Hong Kong fans can watch all of the Repechage action from Monaco live and free as the tournament will be streamed on World Rugby’s website and Facebook and You Tube channels.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2021/2021-06-20-Olympic-7s-Repechage-Monaco-/i-LFKwkkS

Additional reporting and images: World Rugby