Ice Hockey Development May Suffer After Anthem Saga

A sports academic on Thursday said the fallout from a national anthem blunder at an ice hockey tournament featuring Hong Kong could hold back the sport's development, although elite athletes probably won't be affected.

The Sports Federation & Olympic Committee has begun suspension proceedings against the Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association, and the government has indicated it may reduce its subsidies, after a protest song was played instead of the anthem in Bosnia in February.

Lobo Louie, associate head of the department of health and physical education at Education University, said the Hong Kong team would not be prevented from playing international matches, even if there was a year-long suspension for the association.

But he told RTHK that a prolonged punishment could cause problems for the training of non-elite players.

"Basic level training is ... subsidised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. So if [the association was suspended] for a short period of time, I believe the elite athletes who represent Hong Kong shouldn't be affected too much," he said.

"But if the [suspension] lasted for a long time, it might affect the overall development of ice hockey to a certain extent."