Hong Kong's top cyclist Wong Kam-po, selected to be the one to conclude the Olympic torch relay in the southern Chinese city, said he is aiming at the Olympic gold medal to complete his collection of cycling trophies.
"I have had many other medals since I joined professional sports (in 1990). I am definitely aiming at the Olympic gold medal," said the baby-faced cyclist in an interview with Xinhua.
Wong, 35, won the first gold medal for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the National Games in 1997. He also garnered the golds in the Asian Games, the Asian Championship before rounding up the World Championship gold in 2007.
The cyclist, dubbed the Asian Cycling King, is one of the two most popular sportspeople in the city, the other being Queen of Windsurfing Lee Lai-shan who led the Hong Kong leg of the torch relay. Both Wong and Lee grew up in Hong Kong.
Wong said he was honored to be one of the 120 torchbearers.
"It is a great opportunity for Hong Kong to show the world what our international city is like. Hong Kong is not much of a big one but every part of it is unique."
"The New Territories I live in, for example, is home to many comfortable neighborhoods. It is well-planned. If you go to Kowloon or the Hong Kong Island, you will see a lot of people. It's crowded but modern and full of vitality," he said.
Wong said he had the best wishes for the Beijing Olympics.
"I have been competing recently to qualify for the Games. I am confident. I am moving towards my best, although I still need a bit of fine tuning," he added.
(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2008)