Vice-President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Brian Stevenson, who is also chef de mission of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, is on the show this week. He talks about how Hong Kong athletes have improved over the years with better support and the frame of mind of our athletes.

Check out the full transcript of TVB’s Straight Talk host Dr Eugene Chan’s interview with Dr Brian Stevenson:

Chan: Good evening! I'm Eugene Chan and welcome to Straight Talk. Our guest this evening is Brian Stevenson, vice-president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Brian Stevenson, . Dr Stevenson has an extensive background in accounting and business and he has been a prominent figure in our sports community, serving in leadership roles with our Rugby Union and the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He has also been Olympic Attaché and Chef de Mission for various international games. In recognition of his many services to the development and promotion of Hong Kong's charities and sports, Stevenson was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2018. Welcome, Brian!

Stevenson: Thank you!

Chan: Brian, as you know, the 2024 Summer Olympics is starting in Paris in about 10 days’ time and you're the Chef de Mission, leading our team and then I believe this is our 33rd Olympic. So maybe we can start with a brief background of how Hong Kong has evolved in Olympic history.

Stevenson: Sure, sure. Well, I think the first one we attended, if I remember, was 1956 in Helsinki. And of course, the first time the small delegation, only a handful of people. And we've attended every Olympics since then, which is excellent, other than one, which was in 1980, the Moscow Olympics, and that of course is where the Americans had objected to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, and called for a boycott. And roughly the Olympics world was split into two. And I reflected on that and I thought, now wait a minute, that was 1980. Hello, we were part of the United Kingdom team, and of course, the British no doubt said, you better not go. We didn't. I think it'd be very much different today, but there we go.

Chan: So, what will be some of the differences between now and then because, as you said, we have started with a very small delegation? I mean, have we increased the number of qualifications as well as the actual, the actual delegation size? Because we know the whole team not only went with the sportsmen, but also with supporting officials.

Stevenson: Exactly. That's very important, the latter point you just mentioned very quickly. There's supporting officials – that's all your medics, particularly the medical people and the people that help you recover after your competition, ready for the next one. The delegations have increased considerably. The current delegation will have 35 athletes and we will have an overall delegation of just over 80 that is slightly smaller than ... a little bit smaller than Tokyo. But there's specific reasons for that. And Tokyo was one of the larger ones, but the largest one, surprisingly, was London in 2012. And I attended that one as an attaché there.

Chan: When you say there'll be 35 athletes and company this time, how many of them are actually first timers to the Olympics?

Stevenson: That's a great question, Eugene, and I'm very pleased to say 20 of them …

Chan: Wow.

Stevenson: … which is absolutely wonderful. And our youngest athlete is 17 years of age, a swimmer. And she will be competing in two events in Paris.

Chan: Indeed, it's very encouraging that more than half the delegations are first timers and given how we have done ... we have done extremely well in the Tokyo Olympics just recently. So, that means it really has pushed Hong Kong athletes at a much higher level right now.

Stevenson: I agree. And I think that is clear from the results over the past few years, and particularly Tokyo. That was an incredible set of results.

Chan: Indeed.

Stevenson: We've won nine medals in total since we first became engaged in 1952. Six of these medals were won in Tokyo. And we will go to Paris, and it's a great team. And the thing that I think is very impressive that are our medal winners in Paris and all of them other than Sara Lee, who retired, unfortunately. Grace, I’m a great fan of Grace and her kata. Kata is not in the Paris Olympics, but all other medal winners will be there.

Chan: Are there any sports that Hong Kong has qualified for the first time in the 2024 Paris Olympics?

Stevenson: There is actually one and that is taekwondo, first time ever, which is wonderful. And again, obviously first time ever, first time athlete as well.

Chan: I mean, I'm sure many viewers like myself, would have seen the coverage on the flag presentation ceremony. Can you share with our viewers what your experience is like being the head of the delegation?

Stevenson: My experience of being head of a delegation to date has been more on meeting the athletes as many as I can and getting myself prepared for Paris because behind the scenes, there is a lot of work that is being getting done by my Olympic colleagues, and specifically, my senior colleagues. A couple of them left, they will be in Paris today.

Chan: I mean, is this your first time being the Chef de Mission for a Hong Kong delegation?

Stevenson: No, it's not. I headed to the Winter Games in Sapporo, but this is the first time for a summer Olympics, yes.

Chan: Do you feel much pressure on the performance?

Stevenson: Well, pressure. A very good question. Pressure and performance. I'll probably answer that. Nobody's asked me that question, specifically. The answer would be yes. But the pressure does not worry me at all. I've got great confidence in the athletes, I've got great confidence in their coaches. And as I mentioned, if you look at our leading athletes, they did very well in Tokyo. Since then they've done remarkably well. We go to the games with three World Champions and they maintain that level, which is very impressive. So, no, the pressure, the pressure would be on them. But I'm very ... I am impressed personally, they have learned to handle pressure for some time now.

Chan: As you just mentioned, in the last Olympics at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, we had one gold, two silver and three bronze medals, one of the best ones we've ever done.

Stevenson: Yes.

Chan: I mean, it might not be a great number to many countries, but for a mere population of 7.5 million, damn, I think we've done very well, haven’t we?

Stevenson: Outstanding. Really, Tokyo was really outstanding. As we know, we only won three medals before that. Since we became involved in Helsinki, that just emphasizes how tremendous a performance that was in Tokyo.

Chan: So, as the title of the show of this evening goes, is it all about medals?

Stevenson: All about medals? I might not agree with that. I think it involves a lot more than that. Yes, medals and every athlete, every single one of them, all 35 will be aiming to win a medal, but at the same time, they will know only their best performances. And from my perspective, I believe the community's perspective, that's what we should be looking for, is that they turn in their best performance on the day. And they will know their times and competitive events. And that's what we look to and good luck to them on that day but for sure, each one of them, and particularly our leading athletes, will be aiming for medals.

Chan: Right and also from the news, we read that the Hong Kong Jockey Club has been very generous that we have a 20 percent increase in their prize money and saying that the cash incentives say for a gold medalist will be from HK$5 million to HK$6 million and HK$3 million for silver and HK$1 million for bronze. Would it be a very good incentive for the athletes or would it, on the other hand, put too much pressure on their shoulders?

Stevenson: Well, no, I'll take the latter point first – pressure on their shoulders. I don't think so. These athletes are ready for pressure. They are used to pressure but I think the question is a good one because probably my Jockey Club colleagues or my former colleagues won't disagree with me, but ... they won't disagree with me at all. I think what they're doing is wonderful and it is a great recognition of the medalists, if they are medalists when they come back to Hong Kong, and it's great that the community recognizes them. So, the work of the Jockey Club is excellent. Does the money alone be the thing that motivate the athletes? No, I don't think so. Because these young people have been training for their particular sports. They have a passion for them. And they've been engaged for years, as have their coaches. But it's an excellent reward and recognition from the community.

Chan: Right, Brian, some of the athletes who are with the Hong Kong Institute of Sport are paid up to like HK$50,000 a month. And then they say that the government has invested over HK$7.4 billion into our athletes. They said there should be some minimum performance expectations. What would you say to that?

Stevenson: My friend, when it comes to sports, I've been involved in a lot of sports myself. I don't think minimum expectations. Obviously you expect everybody to do their best, they've got to get fit, and they've got to perform to the best and you know, what their previous base was before that. But the minimum expectations are very difficult from the viewpoint of sports, and you're seeing that every day. If you watch your television and major sports.

Chan: I'm going to ask you one short comment, I mean according to our Hong Kong fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai, one of my fellow outstanding young persons. She was 80 percent fit after the injury, but she said, when she thinks what a gold medal would mean to the people of Hong Kong, that gives her the extra incentive for her to motivate and really train hard. What would be your quick comment on that?

Stevenson: I would totally agree with that. And I think that is Vivian speaking. And she's quite correct.

Chan: Right. Okay. Let's have a break now, but viewers stay tuned. We will be right back.

Chan: Thank you for staying with us on Straight Talk. Dr Brian Stevenson, the Chef de Mission of our Hong Kong delegation to the Paris Olympic Games, is with us, talking about our athletes and whether winning medals is important. So, Brian, you said very clearly that winning medals is not the only thing, you as the Chef de Mission, will be hoping for. And there had been a lot of talk about national pride in our city recently. Do you think winning medals in the Olympics will contribute to the sense of national pride and unity in Hong Kong?

Stevenson: I do, I absolutely do. And when I say… for sure I believe winning medals is important, but it is not the be all and end all, by any stretch of the imagination. And let's not forget in the Olympics, they say it is the competing that is important, not necessarily the winning. But when I say that to my athletes, particularly I come from a rugby background, and I say “okay boys, you got to do your best, and that's the main thing competing”. But I’ll say it at the same time, I will tell them “we are there to win”.

Chan: And I am sure, my friend had said to me before the show, my friend Leslie, he said to me it is very important that the journey of the athletes and also to be able to understand more of themselves, and all of the preparing themselves for greater things to come in their life. So, can you share some good stories with us that might have inspired the community through all these athletic activities?

Stevenson: Well, I totally agree with that. And when they go to the Olympic Games, they will be there with some of their great heroes and heroines, they will have an opportunity to meet with them and interact with them. And that's great. And also, I think from the viewpoint of Hong Kong, that is really super because nowadays of course, Hong Kong, we are under a bit of pressure regularly on a geopolitical basis. And it is wonderful that we are there with a strong team, with good young people that can interact with other athletes in the world. And they will learn so much from that themselves.

Chan: Right. Brian, as you said, you have been in Hong Kong for decades, you know that Hong Kong has never been known to be a sporting city ...

Stevenson: Yes, yes.

Chan: … compared to many other countries. But we have done extremely well, as we said earlier in the show. And especially after the last Olympics, we have done better. You said we have like 3 world records going into the games. What would you say that has contributed to this?

Stevenson: Well, I've got no doubt about it. For many years now, I've been involved with sport. Very luckily since I first came to Hong Kong in the early ’70s, administration of sports, as well as playing. And definitely, I've seen a change in Hong Kong from the viewpoint of the government. When I came from United Kingdom, from Scotland, and when you are a young person at school, sport was part of your education. When I came to Hong Kong, without being rude, I don't think that was the case and I can understand there was great emphasis on the educational side, the pressure on the children to do well in exams. But sport can add so much to a person's character and development as well. And I think I've seen a great change in that. And the government, I think, has made major moves over the years, and these are very good moves. And of course, together with, we are very fortunate we have got some like the Jockey Club, and it was the Jockey Club, if I recollect, that initiated and built the sport. I said initiated, but initiation will go to the government, but the building went to the Jockey Club, of the Sports Institute. That has made a huge difference, and so has the government's contributions and their investment in sport, particularly over the last few years. I think they recognized the importance of investment in sport, and in the development of young people.

Chan: Right. I remember when Trisha Leahy was here last year, when she talked about from the perspective of industry of sport. She said to me that the amount of investment, I mean not only for physical sort of the actual place itself, and also you have sport psychology …

Stevenson: Absolutely.

Chan: You have a lot of good physiotherapists. I mean there are many ways of supporting an athlete. That's very important.

Stevenson: Absolutely. And Eugene, a visit the other day, we took a group of school children – primary and secondary – around the Sports Institute, and they met some of the athletes. I've been there several times obviously. And when you see the training that goes on and as you say what's behind it, with all the analysis of performance, together with recovery processes, there is an awful lot that goes on there, huge support, and the athletes know that and appreciate it.

Chan: Right. So, what will you say will be the biggest challenge for athletes nowadays to sort of prepare and compete in this upcoming Olympics?

Stevenson: A very interesting question. And I have been following what some of the athletes have been saying in the papers, particularly our leading athletes. And it is very interesting. I completely understand when they say are they thinking of medals? Of course they are. But they are saying they are thinking of their next competition, they have to get through the first round to get to the second, and so on until you get to the final. So, there's so much more to it, but it's more preparing yourself to become and be able to take the stress at the closer you get to that medal position. And when you are in that final race that is a tremendous ability if you have that.

Chan: Right. And also I am going to congratulate you because you won't be having a very warm Olympics because I know that the government has prepared 45 portable air-conditioners to the games because there isn’t air-conditioners in the village. Is that something that is common that they don’t have air-conditioners?

Stevenson: Oh, absolutely. I mean but … le francaise (the French way). I mean they are innovative and they said this is environmentally friendly, as did, of course, most of the allies of France. But at the same time, they said “well, but actually we are going to bring our own air-conditioning”. Well, we are too. And obviously, summer in Paris can be exceptionally hot.

Chan: Indeed.

Stevenson: You have to be prepared for that. And that's no offence to the environment, but this is once every 4 years. And I do believe the French actually recently, I am quite surprised, there is, I think, 5,000 rooms or whatever it is, and they are going to put in air-conditioners in 2,500. They themselves, the French, not just for themselves, I mean for the Olympics. How you choose the 2,500 from the 5,000? I have no idea. But anyway we've addressed that problem.

Chan: Right. And I know that the Sports Federation and the Olympics Committee have also been thinking about all of us in Hong Kong, while you guys are fighting for us in Paris. You have installed game-themed installation at Tamar Park at Admiralty, including the Paris mascot, and also there will be a lot of… I mean, the government has secured a broadcasting right for the Paris Games. We have designated venues across 18 districts for Olympics live zones, and all major malls with various events. So, do you anticipate the whole community will be fully backing the team this time?

Stevenson: Well, personally, I certainly, I sincerely hope so. And I do believe that will happen. And I've got to thank, yes, you mentioned the SFOC, the work we've been doing. But at the same time, I have got to thank the government. I think that was an excellent idea when they decided to get, purchase the right for television, and everybody can see it. Not just the Hong Kong competitors, but also the games themselves. And you've got these sites all over the city now they are organizing with major screens, and I would encourage everybody to go and watch. And I am sure they would because I think Hong Kong people will support their team and the games as well.

Chan: However due to the time zone, that some people said, Annie Tse, one of our good friends, chairman of the retail management association, saying that because all the games could be late at night, and could cause the community to wake up later. That might affect the daily retail. How would you say to that?

Stevenson: What I would say to that? Okay, I will say to the gentlemen from the retail, yes, you may be correct, but if you are correct, then it is only for 2 weeks and it is once every 4 years, and everybody will be in a better mood when they come to your retail store.

Chan: Right. So, let's look at something from now, I mean we are certainly waiting for some great results, I mean no matter whether how many medals, I'm sure the viewers and me will be fully supporting your work. So, what would be your long-term goal from your perspective for the future Olympics Games for Hong Kong team?

Stevenson: Well, I would anticipate the government definitely are behind sport, more than they were before. And that's not being rude about what they were before, but it has been developing as the interest has in sports. I would anticipate that will continue. And also my hope would be that the community itself might become more active in sport. And everybody, not just the young people, the emphasis, quite rightly, a lot of emphasis on the young people, but the elderly as well because I think the more you get into sport. And by sport it can be really simple, walking, stay healthy, get out there, do exercise. And in doing that, you are doing yourself a favor, and also you are doing the community a favor. Then hopefully, you will have less visits to the doctors and the hospitals as well.

Chan: Right. As we said earlier, some of our athletes have been getting outstanding results. Over half of the delegates are first-timers, that shows a lot of coming out from results from the government, and as well people like yourself, and all the leaders. Is it the right timing to ask the government for even more resources?

Stevenson: Well, remember I am an accountant, Eugene. So, I have to say I have got a degree of sympathy with (financial secretary) Paul Chan because our budgets are very, very challenged nowadays.

Chan: Right.

Stevenson: But what I would say to him is: we are on a path, the government is on a path, to support sport. It should continue to do that to the best of its ability. And ideally obviously, I would anticipate no cutting of our budget, but rather modest increases.

Chan: One quick comment from you: what advice would you give to our young athletes in Hong Kong?

Stevenson: Advice I would give you, if you have a passion for sport, you love sports, go for it. That is your dream, go for it. When I was young, no possibility of me becoming a sportsman, I had to study and become a business person. You can. You can become a sports person and have a wonderful career.

Chan: Right. Unfortunately, that's all the time we have. So, Brian, thank you for sharing your insights with us this evening. Whilst medals are a significant achievement, the Olympic spirit encompasses so much more: personal growth, sportsmanship, and national pride. As we look forward to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, we wish you and the entire Hong Kong delegation the very best.

Have a good evening and see you next week!