What had been planned for 2022, the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games comprising 40 sports, the most ever, will take place between September and October this year. Better late than never and best in Hangzhou, a scenic and technology centre with much else to impress guests, be they athletes, officials or fans. We from Hong Kong, China, are eager to partake and build upon the momentum demonstrated by our unprecedented successes in the Summer Olympiad of Tokyo. The added time has given us the incentive and training to hone the skills which our athletes are eager to display upon the Asian Games stage. Major sporting meets are where legends are made and we can be certain that our athletic envoys will live up to if not exceed high expectations. Excellence is indeed our creed as will be shown in Hangzhou for the 19th Asian Games.

We confer the regional flag and, with it, our hope for an outstanding performance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. We fare usually well in the largest sporting tournament in our continent and will be motivated even more so to achieve as the Games have been postponed by a year and by our athletes unprecedented successes in the Tokyo Olympics. The extra time gives us the edge in training and competing to culminate in the Asian Games. We are also impelled by pride to see our athletes excel in our mother land that has faced up and met many challenges. Onward to victory.