The mainland's Paris Olympians are warmly welcomed in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on August 29, 2024, as they kicked off a three-day visit to the region. Photo: VCG

The mainland's Paris Olympians, who had achieved China's best-ever performance at an overseas Olympic Games, were warmly welcomed in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday as they kicked off a visit to the region that will last until Saturday.

The visit will not only promote sports and cultural exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong, but also evoke a strong sense of national pride among Hong Kong residents, analysts said.

Eric Chan Kwok-ki, chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR, welcomed the delegation at the airport on behalf of the SAR government. He thanked the mainland Olympians for visiting Hong Kong shortly after the Paris Olympics and giving the Hong Kong residents a chance to get a closer look at the national team athletes, China News Service reported on Thursday.

Director of the General Administration of Sport of China Gao Zhidan, who headed the delegation, said that during their visit to Hong Kong, the mainland Paris Olympians will have extensive communications with relevant departments of the SAR government and the general public, especially the youth, to exchange skills and further promote bonds.

"Hong Kong residents are overjoyed and exhilarated at meeting the mainland Olympic athletes," Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, a member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"The entrance of the hotel where the mainland Olympic athletes were going to stay was bustling with excitement as hundreds of Hong Kong residents eagerly awaited their arrival. Some had been waiting for hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of these Olympic heroes in person," said Wong who was at the scene.

The mainland Olympic delegation's visit shows that the Chinese central government cares strongly about the HKSAR, Wong noted. 

"When the athletes appeared, the cheers inside and outside the hotel were deafening. I believe that this exchange will greatly enhance the patriotic feelings and national pride of all sectors of Hong Kong toward the motherland," he said.

"The Olympic champions and outstanding athletes are role models for many, and their stories of success and perseverance can inspire more people, especially the youth, to participate in sports," Zhang Bin, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times. 

"Seeing the mainland Olympic athletes can motivate the residents of Hong Kong, particularly the young people, to develop a passion for sports and even contribute to the development of local sports industries," Zhang said.