IOC chief seeks assurance on HK<\/p>\n
HONG KONG (AFP): Hong Kong's future in international sport is
\nassured but its name is not, Olympic supremo Juan Antonio
\nSamaranch said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The International Olympic Committee president is in Hong Kong
\nfor the handover and to get final guarantees from Chinese leaders
\nabout the territory's participation in international events.<\/p>\n
He said there were issues to be finalized like the name and
\nemblem to be used by Hong Kong and its competitors at the
\nOlympics, Asian Games and other events.<\/p>\n
China wants the new Special Administrative Region (SAR) to
\ncompete as "Hong Kong, China," but many sports leaders in the
\nterritory oppose this. It also wants the Bauhinia flower which is
\non Hong Kong's new flag to be the emblem.<\/p>\n
A deal is expected to be struck under which teams will be
\ncalled Hong Kong, China, but an emblem featuring the Bauhinia
\nwill only carry the words "Hong Kong." China's national anthem
\nwill be used.<\/p>\n
"The IOC's main priority is that the youth of Hong Kong
\ncontinue to take part in major Games and competitions around the
\nworld as an autonomous national Olympic committee," the Spaniard
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"There is no threat of any kind to Hong Kong's future autonomy
\nas a separate MOC," he said.<\/p>\n
Samaranch was to meet Hong Kong's future leader Tung Chee-hwa
\nand fly to Beijing today to meet Chinese sports officials before
\nreturning tomorrow to make what his aides said would be "an
\nimportant announcement."<\/p>\n
The IOC had to broker a complicated deal so Taiwan could
\ncompete in Olympics as Chinese Taipei when mainland China was
\nrecognized. Samaranch has said he expects this transition to be
\nmuch smoother.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong has one of the wealthiest sporting movements in Asia
\nbut has not made the impact on the sporting world to match its
\neconomic power.<\/p>\n
The territory's first Olympic title was won by windsurfer Lee
\nLai-shan at the Atlanta Olympics last year.<\/p>\n
Lee has returned from studies in Australia to attend the
\nhandover. "As a Chinese I am very happy about the return," she
\nsaid of the historic occasion.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong has also invested heavily in bringing in mainland
\nswimming coaches, with China's medley world record holder Lin Li
\nthe latest to arrive this month.<\/p>",
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