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The Hong Kong, China, delegation to the 42nd International Children's Games in San Francisco achieved remarkable results winning six medals, including two gold, one silver and three bronze.
Chan Kin-lok snatched two gold medals in the Girls 100 yard Butterfly and Girls 50 yard Butterfly, while Konstantin Liu won a silver in Boys Golf.
The girls' swimming team won a bronze medal in the Girls 400 yard Medley Relay, while Natalie Wong and Fiona Ma got two bronze medals in Girls 100 yard Backstroke and Girls 100 yard Breaststroke respectively. The girlsˇ¦ swimming team was represented by Chan Kin-lok, Fiona Ma, Natalie Wong and Yu Wai-ting.
The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (SFETO), Ms Doris Cheung, congratulated both the swimming and golf teams. "I applaud our young athletes for their outstanding performances. This is the best recognition of their efforts. The Government is committed to providing our junior athletes with more exposure to contests with their counterparts overseas, and participation in the San Francisco International Children's Games is a golden opportunity for them to embrace the Olympic spirit of solidarity, fair play and friendship. Hong Kong is a proud co-host city of the 29th Olympiad and we are confident of achieving our goal of staging the best ever Olympic and Paralymic Equestrian Events."
The Hong Kong Team was welcomed by the SFETO last Thursday (July 10) upon their arrival in San Francisco. The team, comprising six young athletes, was led by Professor Mee-lee Leung, Chef de Mission; Mr Brad Alan Schadewitz, Golf Coach; and Ms Fu Mui, Swimming Coach.
The 42nd International Children's Games 2008 was held in San Francisco from July 10 to July 15. The games brought together 1,500 athletes aged 12 to 15 years from 100 cities representing 50 countries from around the world to compete in track and field, tennis, swimming, volleyball, soccer, table tennis, basketball and golf.
Endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, the International Children's Games is the only global, youth athletic event that combines sports, educational programmes and peace-motivated cultural exchanges. Its mission is to enable children of the world, of different languages, origins and outlooks, to meet each year on the field of competition to practise friendship and understanding and to help secure world peace through the Olympic ideals.
Ends/Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:35
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