Mainland Olympians embark on 4-day visit to Macao

Chinese weightlifting athlete Long Qingquan, Taekwondo athlete Zhao Shuai, volleyball athletes Hui Ruoqi and Zhu Ting (from R to L) attend "A date with the youth" activity in Macao, South China, Aug 30, 2016. Delegation of Chinese mainland Olympians arrived in Macao Monday afternoon, embarking a four-day visit here. [Photo/Xinhua]

MACAO - Delegation of Chinese mainland Olympians arrived in Macao Monday afternoon, embarking a four-day visit here.

A 64-member delegation including 42 Rio Olympic gold medalists, coaches and badminton player Lin Dan, sprint athlete Su Bingtian as well as Fu Yuanhui, the swimmer who become an internet buzz because of her funny expression and speech will interact with Macao citizens during the visit.

Cheering crowds greeted the delegation upon their arrival at the Macao Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal. One Macao citizen said that she likes swimming. She thought the national swimming team performed well in Rio Olympics. She didn't get the tickets of interactive events, so she can't miss the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the adorable girl Fu Yuanhui.

At the welcome banquet held at Macao East Asian Games Dome, Chui Sai On, the Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region, said mainland elite athletes' visit to Macao allowing the local residents to have a close look of the elegant demeanor of the athletes, and to understand what efforts they have made in the journey to strive for victory. Macao youth can also learn from the athletes and set a good outlook on life.

With the joint efforts of sports community as well as the the support of the state sports general administration and Chinese Olympic committee, Macao have made a lot progress in competitive sports and mass sports since its return to the motherland. The arrival of the delegation will ignite Macao residents' enthusiasm for the sport again and promote the development of local sports, Chui added.

The delegation feel the enthusiasm and affection of Macao compatriots upon their arrival, said Liu Peng, minister of the General Administration of Sport of China. He believed that the mainland and Macao will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in sports and various fields.

The delegation of mainland Olympians will attend "A date with the youth" activity to share joys and pains in training and competition on Tuesday morning, and interact with Macao citizens in the evening party.

The athletes will go to six different communities to communicate with local citizens and showcase and their sporting skills and communicate with Macao teenagers on Aug 31.

In Rio Olympic Games, the Chinese delegation won 26 gold, 18 silver and 26 bronze medals. Chinese athletes set five world records and 12 Olympic records, also winning the first gold medal for China in bicycle and men's taekwondo.