Skater Barton Lui blames officials over Sochi failure

Hong Kong speed skater Barton Lui Pan-to who crashed out of the heats in the 1,500 meter contest in Sochi complained about officials' decision to not send a team doctor and their apparent apathy about the city's only athlete in the Olympic Games.

He complained that there was no team doctor to treat his muscle aches and pains after a lot of training and the muscle pain prevented him from being at his physical peak. He also accused the local Olympic officials of virtually ignoring him in the run-up to his short-track speed skating event. 

Team officials have disputed his claims about the lack of a doctor and rounded on him for making excuses for his early exit from the Winter Games in Russia. The 20-year-old ended fifth out of six contestants at the 1,500m short track speed skating on Sunday. 

Barton Lui had been passed fit by a doctor before he left to take part in the Winter Games in Sochi, said senior Hong Kong Olympic Committee official Pang Chung. “Any athlete who fails the medical test prior to major international games is not allowed to go. He was passed and he went to Sochi.”

Lui had said his request for a doctor had been turned down as there was no more room in the seven-strong Hong Kong delegation.

“Yes, we had six officials and there was no room for a doctor. We felt it wasn’t necessary as we just had one athlete in the squad,” Pang said. “All the other officials were necessary and we didn’t have room for a doctor who wasn’t needed in the first place as [Barton] had been passed fit.”

Pang said the committee felt the medical facilities at the athletes’ village would suffice for Barton. “In addition, if we had taken a doctor along without official accreditation, they would not have been able to enter the athletes’ village or the competition venue.”

Pang said Barton had been given all the support he needed, including “helping his parents buy tickets for the competition."