September 11, 2024
Hong Kong – Long Daoyi’s presence at the Macao East Asian Games Dome lit up the crowd in an instant.
With the mic clenched in one hand and the other moving to the beat, he shouted with confident swagger, “Dragon One on the stage now!”
His lyrics hit just as hard as the beat, his sneakers tapping in perfect rhythm, shoulders rolling, head bobbing — every move owning the moment.
But here was something that made this rapper stand out from the rest — he wasn’t dressed in the usual streetwear. Instead, he was proudly sporting Team China’s Olympic uniform.
Fresh from winning gold with Wang Zongyuan in the men’s synchronized 3-meter springboard event at Paris 2024, Long was there to make a splash in a different way.
The gala event where Long performed was in Macao on Sept 1. It was one of the stops made by 65 mainland Olympians — including 59 gold medalists from the Paris Olympic Games — to Hong Kong and Macao from Aug 29 to Sept 2.
The visits were part of a long-standing tradition of mainland Olympic medalists touring Hong Kong and Macao after the Summer Olympics to demonstrate the Olympic spirit and engage with local communities.
Over 4,200 tickets for the gala were given to Macao residents through a lottery system.
Faced with such a large audience, Long said he was nervous but excited. “I’m honored to perform here, and I’m thankful for the chance to show who I am,” he said.
Men of many talents
Long, who loves singing and rapping, has posted five singles on the NetEase Cloud music platform under his stage name, Dragon One. He wrote two of the songs himself.
“Singing helps me relax after training,” he said.
Long bought some recording equipment, recorded the songs in his dorm, did some basic editing, and then uploaded them to the platform.
In July, he released an original rap song in which he expressed his determination to win gold at the Paris Olympics, with lyrics like “I’ll wear the gold medal like a gold chain.”
On Aug 2, that dream became a reality for the 21-year-old Olympic debutant when he stood atop the podium with his teammate Wang.
“Even though we’ve dedicated most of our time and effort to training with the goal of bringing honor to our country, we can still be versatile,” Long said.
“I want to show that Team China members aren’t just outstanding in our sports but also possess a variety of other skills. At this gala, a few of us had the opportunity to showcase those talents, but many more of our teammates have hidden abilities and a different side beyond the competition field,” he said.
During the gala, many Olympians displayed their other talents: rhythmic gymnasts and synchronized swimmers performed dance routines, while swimmers, weightlifters, canoeists and hockey players sang popular songs.
China’s Olympic and world champion table tennis player Fan Zhendong gave a cappella performance of a Cantonese song by Hong Kong singer-actress Miriam Yeung.
That night, Yeung shared the video of Fan’s performance on Sina Weibo, praised his singing, and expressed interest in singing with him someday. She also invited Fan to watch her perform during her current tour if he has the time.
At the Paris Olympics, Fan, who rose to fame at a young age, secured the men’s singles table tennis title.
At 27, he has completed his “Grand Slam “by winning the World Championship, World Cup and the Olympic titles.
Popular paddler
For him, these visits to the special administrative regions are a welcome respite from the stress and exhaustion of competition.
“This journey has been really fun and unforgettable. I’ve communicated with people from different backgrounds in Hong Kong and Macao and made friends with other athletes in our group,” he said.
Born in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Fan is fluent in Cantonese and enjoys singing in it. His popularity was clear during the visits, with fans loudly cheering his name wherever he went.
During the trip, Fan also helped some members of the delegation communicate in Cantonese.
For example, Jia Yifan, who won gold in the women’s doubles badminton at the Paris Olympics with Chen Qingchen, asked Fan how to introduce herself in Cantonese.
Star swimmer Zhang Yufei, with 10 Olympic medals, sought his help to pronounce her favorite Hong Kong dishes of shrimp dumplings and barbecue pork buns. In Cantonese, they are called “har gow” and “char siu bao”.
During the trip, the Olympians also visited local communities, and interacted with residents, students and local athletes.
“This trip offered a range of activities, allowing us to connect in a more relaxed environment outside of the competition. It has been a valuable memory for me,” said Fan.
Vlogs shared by some delegation members reveal that Fan also took the opportunity to learn basic breaking moves from China’s B-girl Liu Qingyi, try skateboarding with 14-year-old skateboarder Cui Chenxi, and play badminton with record-breaking swimmer Pan Zhanle while waiting backstage.
During the trip, China’s veteran shooter Li Yuehong, who won gold in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event at the Paris Olympics, also displayed his musical talents.
While touring, Li played Richard Clayderman’s Mariage d’Amour and also Always With Me, the ending theme from the animated film Spirited Away, on a piano he came across.
His performance impressed his fellow Olympians.
“This is my first visit to Hong Kong and Macao with the delegation, and I’m deeply touched by the warmth of the people here,” said Li. “I’ve felt the local passion for sports and hope this exchange will inspire more young people to embrace the spirit of Chinese sports.”
Li noted that he made many new friends during the trip and gained a better understanding of the challenges and dedication behind various sports.
He also mentioned that the trip deepened his appreciation for the Greater Bay Area and expressed his strong desire to compete in the 15th National Games, which will be co-hosted by Guangdong province, Hong Kong, and Macao in November next year.
“I look forward to experiencing the enthusiasm for sports here once again and will give it my all in the games,” he added.
Infectious fun
China’s table tennis legend Ma Long, Olympic champion gymnast Liu Yang, and over 20 other Olympians showcased their skills and played fun games with local athletes and audience members at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong on Aug 31.
Liu demonstrated his skills on the rings. Ma performed trick shots during his match with Hong Kong table tennis player Wong Chun Ting, including hitting the ball behind his back. The two entertained the crowd by playing around the table, eliciting laughter and cheers from the audience.
It was Ma’s third visit to Hong Kong with the Olympic delegation.
He became one of the most successful Chinese athletes in Olympic history by helping China secure victory in the men’s table tennis team final against Sweden in Paris. The win earned 35-year-old Ma his sixth gold medal, making him the most decorated table tennis player in Olympic history.
“It’s wonderful to be back in Hong Kong. I’m thrilled to see more people enjoying table tennis and hope everyone finds joy in sports,” Ma said.
Badminton mixed doubles duo Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong each played a friendly match with an audience member.
Another highlight was Generation Z shooter Sheng Lihao’s spontaneous crossover into badminton. His unexpected and humorous movements on the court had the audience laughing uproariously.
The 19-year-old, who won gold in the men’s 10m air rifle event and the mixed team event with Huang Yuting, soon went viral with the badminton clip.
Netizens compared his on-court maneuvers to a mix of stumbling and dance moves. Some said he looked like he was about to fall but never did, adding his steps resembled a blend of breakdancing and drunken fist, or zuiquan, a type of boxing.
“Sheng’s badminton antics showed us a lovable and down-to-earth side of an Olympic champion. Thanks for the laughter and happiness,” commented one user on the short-video platform Douyin.
“Seeing the athletes perform live is even more amazing than watching on TV. Their energy and positivity are really inspiring. I hope I can find some confidence and a sense of accomplishment through sports, too,” said Law, a 60-something Hong Kong woman who attended the event.
Many delegation members — including badminton players Zheng and Jia, weightlifter Li Wenwen, and swimmer Zhang — recorded their journeys to Hong Kong and Macao on their vlogs, sharing their affection for the cities and their fellow athletes.
The vlogs not only capture the fun moments behind the scenes not visible to the public, but also show the athletes’ lively and engaging personalities.
“I’m so happy to have met you all during the trip. I’ll always cherish this summer,” Jia wrote on Sina Weibo, referring to the visits as a happy “summer camp” for them.
“To experience such an unforgettable trip to Hong Kong and Macao again, I’m aiming to participate in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics,” she added.
Zheng posted five vlogs documenting the delegation’s five-day stay in the two special administrative regions.
The vlogs capture many joyful moments of his interactions with local residents, such as trying square dancing with older women in Macao and disguising himself as a middle-aged man with a mustache and beer belly to join a badminton game at the South China AA Sports Complex in Hong Kong.
Tin Ka-yan, a 17-year-old student from St. Simon’s Lui Ming Choi Secondary School and a badminton enthusiast, met Zheng at the complex.
He got Zheng to sign his shirt, and said, “Meeting the athletes in person inspires me to improve my badminton skills and face life’s challenges.”
In his vlog, Zheng said the trip had allowed all the Olympians to truly connect with each other.
“It’s been a fulfilling experience. It’s a rare opportunity for us to come together and have fun,” he said.
Zheng enjoys using vlogs to document his life, and watches English ones to build his everyday vocabulary and improve his language skills. He began teaching himself English two years ago.
“We spend a lot of time competing abroad and staying overseas. To communicate better with international players and media and express my thoughts more clearly, I needed to improve my English,” Zheng added.