The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui, tonight (May 14) watched the 2021 Tissot UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup Hong Kong, China, at the Hong Kong Velodrome, giving encouragement to the Hong Kong athletes competing in the event.

     The 2021 Tissot UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup, organised by the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China, is being held from May 13 to 16, with the participation of 75 cycling athletes from about 16 countries and regions. It is the first large-scale international sports event to be held in Hong Kong since the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic locally early last year. With the support and assistance of the relevant departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the organiser has implemented various anti-epidemic measures to ensure that the event can be conducted safely. Among them, while athletes and staff members from other places are exempted from compulsory quarantine, they have to strictly comply with the requirements under a "safety bubble", including virus tests before arriving in Hong Kong, the "test-and-hold" arrangement at the airport, repeated tests as well as quarantine, and restriction of activity areas. In addition to medical surveillance, the relevant exempted persons are restricted to visiting the airport, their accommodation hotel rooms and the event venue only. They have to take dedicated point-to-point transport services and are not allowed to take public transport. Their accommodation hotels are designated by the organiser, with the design, facilities and workflow needing to meet the infection control requirements, and the working staff have undertaken relevant infection control training. Furthermore, the event is being held behind closed doors and members of the public can watch it through live TV broadcasts to cheer for Hong Kong athletes. Mrs Lam and the officials watched the event from the guest area today and did not have contact with any athletes.

     "With the new direction in fighting the pandemic that I announced earlier, we hope to control the epidemic effectively and at the same time resume the daily operation of society in a gradual and orderly manner, including organising large-scale cultural and sports events. By holding this cycling event, we can demonstrate to the world Hong Kong's capability in organising major sports events under extremely challenging circumstances, thereby enhancing the city's position as a hub for major international sports events. This event also allows the Hong Kong elite cycling team to compete with top cyclists in the world, in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics to be held two months later," Mrs Lam said.

     "The Government has bought the television broadcasting rights for the Tokyo Olympics, allowing all Hong Kong people to watch the games for free. I hope that this cycling event will further enhance the atmosphere of supporting the athletes in society and cheering for the Hong Kong athletes on TV across the city during the Tokyo Olympics, so that the athletes can give full play to their skills and bring glory to Hong Kong," she said.

Ends/Friday, May 14, 2021
Issued at HKT 21:10

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