Hong Kong, December 12 (Xinhua) -- The 2021 "New World Victoria Harbour Swimming" kicked off on the 12th at The Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, with a total of about 1,500 runners participating in the day's event.
On 12 December 2021, Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (fourth from right), and Fok Chun-ting, President of the Sports Association and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (first from right), and other guests fired their guns. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Binghui
At 8:15 a.m., the sun was shining and the sea was sparkling. With the announcement by carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), about 50 runners from the men's individual competition set off, followed by the participants in the women's individual event and the U-Yo group in turn.
In 2019 and 2020, the event failed for two consecutive years. With the theme of "Wave after Wave, Create Together", this year's "New World Victoria Harbour Swim" encourages athletes to have the courage to accept the challenges of life and create wave after wave of achievements together. The race takes a new route, starting from the Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier and ending at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui.
On December 12, 2021, the participating swimmers will be in the competition. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Binghui
Yang Zhenmei, a Tokyo Olympian and a member of the Hong Kong women's swimming team in China, participated in the Youyou group on the same day, which is also her second time to participate in the "Victoria Harbour Swimming" after 2013. She said: "The last time I was in the competition group, this year I was in the Youyou group, at first I thought it would be cold, but it was still very comfortable to swim. This time experienced a new route and also enjoyed the scenery and felt good. ”
In the award ceremony after the game, the reporter met Su Huawei, a paralympic athlete who attended as a guest, who had participated in many Paralympic Games, won six gold medals, and was called the real "Su God" by Su Bingtian, the "Asian flyer" who recently visited Hong Kong.
Su Huawei said: "It is very happy to see so many athletes participating in the competition, challenging themselves very hard. For Su Bingtian's praise, he said: "Thank you Su Bingtian for his affirmation, but all athletes have to pay, and everyone deserves respect." ”
On December 12, 2021, Huang Jianming, a disabled swimmer who participated in the competition, was interviewed by the media after the competition. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Binghui
Since 1906, the "Victoria Harbour Crossing" has been an annual event in Hong Kong. However , the event was discontinued in 1978 as shipping traffic at Victoria Harbour became increasingly busy and water quality deteriorated. In 2011, the event was resumed due to improved water quality in Victoria Harbour.
Editors: Liu Yang, Zheng Daojin, Feng Yue (Intern)