The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, meets with representatives of the Rio Olympics Mainland Olympians Delegation at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.
The Government is striving to allocate additional resources to promote the development of the local sporting sector, and the principle of sport for all. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, made the comments this evening (29 August) during a meeting with the Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China, Mr Liu Peng. Mr Liu is in Macao heading a delegation of athletes from the Chinese national team that competed in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Mr Chui said the activities organised for the visit to Macao of the Rio Olympics Mainland Olympians Delegation offered great opportunities for in-person exchanges between the athletes and locals, helping Macao young people better understand the athletes’ own stories and the determination needed to achieve Olympic success. The Chief Executive expressed his gratitude to the General Administration of Sport of China for its support regarding attempts by the Macao Olympic Committee to have its status fully recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Macao residents understood the challenges involved in this process, as only “independent states” have been recognised by the IOC since revisions made in 1996 to the Olympic Charter. As a member of the Olympic Council of Asia, Macao has spared no effort in promoting the development of local sport teams, and in reaching for new heights of achievement when participating in Asia-level international sporting competitions. Speaking at the meeting, Mr Liu said the achievements of the Chinese national team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games were attributable to the strong support of the State Council and that of all the ethnic groups and communities across the country, including the support of Macao. The General Administration of Sport of China would further increase efforts to assist Macao in sending participants to a greater number of sporting events in Asia, stated Mr Liu. Officials of the General Administration of Sport of China also attending the meeting included: the Vice Minister, Mr Gao Zhidan; and the Director of the External Affairs Department, Mr Song Luzeng. The Government was represented additionally by: the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the acting Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Wai Cheng Iong; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng; and the President of the Sports Bureau, Mr Pun Weng Kun. The Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Wang Zhimin, also attended the meeting. The Rio Olympics Mainland Olympians Delegation is on a four-day visit in Macao. The athletes are to take part in several events in order to share their stories of success and their experience of the Rio 2016 Olympics. It is a chance for the Macao public to meet the athletes face-to-face.