National anthem blunder: Hong Kong top sports body to issue written reprimand to city’s ice hockey association

‘After discussion, the board came to the conclusion that the punishment for the association should be relevant to the severity of the incident,’ top sports body says

Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China to amend guidelines, require athletes skip ceremonies if correct anthem not confirmed

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The city’s top sports body has said the written reprimand will mark an end to its row with the ice hockey association. Photo: Handout

Published: 3:05pm, 18 May 2023Updated: 7:58pm, 18 May 2023

Hong Kong’s top sports body will issue a written reprimand to the city’s ice hockey association for failing to take the proper steps to ensure the Chinese national anthem was played at an international competitive event.

Announcing the decision on Thursday, the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China also said it would modify the current guidelines to require sports teams not to attend award ceremonies if organisers had not confirmed they had the correct anthem beforehand.

“After discussion, the board came to the conclusion that the punishment for the [Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association] should be relevant to the severity of the incident and apply sufficient deterrent effect as the association had neither handled the situation well nor paid enough regard to the incident after it happened,” federation honorary secretary general Edgar Yang Joe-tsi said.

Edgar Yang, honorary secretary general of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. Photo: Edmond So

“So we decided to issue a stern written reprimand, instead of a general written warning, to the association,” he added, characterising the move as an end note to the months-long row between the federation and the association.

Yang also said the top sports body would notify the government of its decision, but stressed the reprimand did not equate to any move to cut the association’s funding.

The association in May submitted an 11-page report to the federation, explaining how a protest song was played instead of the national anthem after Hong Kong beat Iran in the Ice Hockey World Championship’s third division in Bosnia and Herzegovina in February.

The document also included a road map for improving the association’s corporate governance in the wake of the incident.