Team China Olympians visit Macao

The Delegation of Elite National Olympic Athletes to Macao arrived on 19 December to fanfare from more than 100 local students at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

The Delegation of Elite National Olympic Athletes to Macao arrived on 19 December to fanfare from more than 100 local students at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

The flag-raising ceremony on 20 December is held annually to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region

The flag-raising ceremony on 20 December is held annually to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region

General Administration of Sport of China Deputy Director Yang Ning (left), who headed the delegation, met with Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U

General Administration of Sport of China Deputy Director Yang Ning (left), who headed the delegation, met with Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U

Gold medallists Ma Long and Xu Xin demonstrate their table tennis skills with local athletes

Gold medallists Ma Long and Xu Xin demonstrate their table tennis skills with local athletes

The delegation visited the city’s UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites – including the Ruins of St Paul’s – after the flag-raising ceremony

The delegation visited the city’s UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites – including the Ruins of St Paul’s – after the flag-raising ceremony

Gold medallists Huang Dongping and Wang Yilyu showcase their badminton skills with local athletes

Gold medallists Huang Dongping and Wang Yilyu showcase their badminton skills with local athletes

With around 500 local young athletes attending the dialogue session, the athletes shared the trials and tribulations of the path to Olympic glory

With around 500 local young athletes attending the dialogue session, the athletes shared the trials and tribulations of the path to Olympic glory

The delegation visited the newly open Athlete Training and Development Centre where some athletes tried out the centre’s equipment

The delegation visited the newly open Athlete Training and Development Centre where some athletes tried out the centre’s equipment

A large-scale evening gala and variety show was held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome, with the Olympians showcasing their skills

A large-scale evening gala and variety show was held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome, with the Olympians showcasing their skills

The parade took off from Sai Van Lake Square, comprising 14 floats.

The athletes visited one of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao’s integrated services centre in Seac Pai Van, where they met and played games with residents

They also sat down and got their hands dirty making glutinous rice balls to celebrate the Winter Solstice festival

They also sat down and got their hands dirty making glutinous rice balls to celebrate the Winter Solstice festival

Team China and local athletes bid farewell to one another as the sporting heroes left Macao on 21 December after spending three days in the city

Team China and local athletes bid farewell to one another as the sporting heroes left Macao on 21 December after spending three days in the city

Team China’s Olympians visited Macao on 19 December for a three-day visit. They received a heroes’ welcome at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge by local students, after the athletes had spent 14 days in mandatory quarantine in Zhuhai following their visit to Hong Kong. The Olympians attended the celebratory flag-raising ceremony on 20 December to mark the 22nd anniversary of Macao’s return to Chinese administration.

Members of the 68-strong delegation included 2020 Tokyo Olympics’ double gold winner in men’s diving, Xie Siyi; gold medallist on the men’s rings, gymnast Liu Yang; gold medallist in women’s trampoline, Zhu Xueying; the first Chinese sprinter to reach an Olympic 100-metre final, Su Bingtian; table tennis Gram Slam winner, Ma Long; and the nation’s first Olympic gold medallist in women’s individual epee fencing, Sun Yiwen. Team China won a total of 88 medals – 38 gold, 32 silver and 18 bronze – last summer.

 After meeting a host of young local athletes, community groups and taking in the best of Macao, the Delegation of Elite National Olympic Athletes left on 21 December.