Mr. Ronnie M. C. WONG, JP, Hon. Secretary General of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (Federation), Ms. Vivien C.C. LAU, BBS, JP, Vice-President of the Federation cum Headquarters Official of the Hong Kong, China Delegation leading the Table Tennis team and Medical Officials, departed from Hong Kong to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games yesterday (1 August 2016). The remaining teams including Badminton, Swimming, etc. will arrive Rio in the coming few days.

Hong Kong will be sending a delegation of 75 members including 38 athletes, to participate in 9 sports, namely: Aquatics – Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Fencing, Golf, Rowing, Sailing – Windsurfing and Table Tennis, in which Golf is one of the new sports that will be featured in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Team Welcome Ceremony of Hong Kong, China will be held at the Village Plaza of the Olympic Village on 4 August 2016, 15:30 Rio time. (5 August 2016, 02:30 Hong Kong time.)

To provide the updated information to the public, the Federation has established various online channels including a newly launched mobile App namely “SFOC” (Andriod version), which is now available for free download from Google Play (iOS version will be released soon); a dedicated Hong Kong, China Delegation to Rio 2016 Olympic Games web page (2016og.hkolympic.org), which will provide the updated competition schedule, results and photos; and the Chef de Mission Facebook Page “RioHkgCdm” (www.facebook.com/RioHkgCdm) where Mr. Kenneth FOK, JP, Chef de Mission of Hong Kong, China Delegation will share the latest behind the scene news of the Delegation at Rio.

To commemorate the participation of Hong Kong, China in this major international sports event, a special edition of stamps with a theme titled “Games of the XXXI Olympiad Rio 2016″, with associated philatelic products, will be issued by the Hongkong Post on 5 August 2016. The Federation will also be issuing a prestige “souvenir cover set” with the same theme, which will contain a serviced prestige souvenir cover affixed with a set of four stamps on the Rio Olympiad and the Olympic pin to be worn by members of the Delegation when attending the event. The prestige souvenir cover set will be available for sale at all philatelic offices on the same day as the stamps. For details, please visit Hongkong Post’s website at www.hongkongpost.hk.

The Federation will publish the upcoming issue of its official newsletter “Olympic Voice of Hong Kong” with a special theme of introducing the Hong Kong athletes to Rio 2016 with related Games information. In addition, the Federation will launch a promotion campaign in MTR stations, newspapers and online media to salute our athletes and give recognition to our sponsors.

The Federation would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all the supporting organizations and sponsors, including Home Affairs Bureau, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Blanc de Chine, British Airways, China Travel Services (HK) Limited, FILA Marketing (Hong Kong) Limited, Kee Wah Bakery Limited, Liberty International Insurance Ltd and Shun Hing Group.

Lastly, the Federation wishes our Hong Kong, China Delegation all the best in the coming Summer Olympic Games!

Issued by:        Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China

Date:               2 August 2016