Hong Kong, China: Olympic Council of Asia Vice President Timothy Fok believes the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in November can further demonstrate the rise of Asia in the 21st century. Speaking at an Asian Games support function in Hong Kong on Saturday, Fok said Guangzhou would build on the success of the 2008 Olympic Games in the Chinese capital.

“After the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the Guangzhou Asian Games will become a milestone for Chinese sport on the world stage,” Fok told the audience at the “Hong Kong-Guangzhou join hands to welcome the Asian Games” rally at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sha Tin.

“With the global focus shifting to Asia in the 21st century, the Guangzhou Asian Games will highlight the Asian sports scene on the world stage.

“To show our support, Hong Kong will send the largest ever delegation in the history of the Asian Games to Guangzhou. We are close neighbours on the Pearl River Delta, so Hong Kong will feel the same glory and happiness, the same drive and excitement in the local community, as Guangzhou in hosting the Asian Games.”

In a later interview, Fok, an IOC Member, said he was grateful that the Hong Kong government would support any bid by the Hong Kong National Olympic Committee for the Asian Games in 2019 or 2023, following the success of the 5th East Asian Games in the Special Administrative Region of China last December.

He said that all 77 national sports associations belonging to the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong were behind the idea, but he remained concerned about the sports facilities in Hong Kong to stage such a massive multi-sports event.

“We must send a letter of intent to the OCA by March 31, and then we still have a year to work on the details,” he added. “I will be attending the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next month and will be able to speak to the people concerned, and after that we will decide what to do.”