Hong Kong residents will enjoy a string of TV programs showing the Paris Olympics in the coming months, and more than 12 hours of events on each game day from July 26 to Aug 11, a local free TV station announced on Monday.
To help audiences cheer for athletes of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the nation, the special programs and Olympic broadcasting will provide professional commentaries from local stars including cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze and badminton player Angus Ng Ka-long.
In April, the SAR government announced that it had successfully acquired the TV broadcasting rights of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics to enable all residents to watch it on television for free. The games will be broadcast on three free-to-air TV stations, namely TVB, ViuTV, HOY TV as well as public broadcaster RTHK.
READ MORE: Paris Olympics can be watched for free in HK
At a news conference on Monday, Patrick Tsang On-yip, executive director of i-Cable Communications Limited, which owns HOY TV, said all three channels the company operates, namely HOY International Business Channel (Channel 76), HOY TV (Channel 77) and HOY Infotainment (Channel 78), will broadcast the Olympics and relevant TV shows.
From Tuesday, a series of international sports events will be on screen, including FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, Copa America and more. The rundown also includes a TV documentary series introducing the Olympics as well as Hong Kong athletes who will compete in Paris, Tsang said.
During the Olympics, Tsang said two of the three channels will provide at least 12 hours of matches and competitions, while the other one will report daily updates through news and highlights videos.
Former cycling world champion Wong Kam-po, fencing star Cheung Siu-lun and other athletes and professionals will join the line-up of commentators to ignite audiences’ passion through their expertise, Tsang added.
Speaking at the conference, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, secretary for culture, sports and tourism said as of Monday, Hong Kong athletes have obtained 30 qualifications for the Paris Olympics, and 20 qualifications for the Paralympic Games.
Athletes who have secured a ticket to Paris include Olympic swimming medalist Siobhan Bernadette Haughey and Olympic gold-medalist fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long.
READ MORE: Paris 2024 official stamp unveiled at Postal Museum
Yeung said although there is a six-hour time difference between Paris and Hong Kong, and some events may take place late at night, he believes that Hong Kong people’s enthusiasm and their support to local athletes will not be affected.
Yeung hopes that the TV programs can also contribute to economic activities and increase the public’s interest in sports, as well as promoting sports for all.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to Aug 11, and the Paralympic Games will be staged from Aug 28 to Sept 8.
Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com
