Editorial | Efforts to establish Hong Kong as a venue for elite sports events are paying off

The buzz around sport in Hong Kong, fuelled by the city’s success in the Olympics, has been sustained by the hosting of a series of eye-catching international events – and there are more on the way. Athletes from 35 countries and regions took part in the inaugural World Games Series early this month, featuring three sports not included in the Olympics. Six thousand cyclists competed in the 50km Cyclothon a week ago. This followed the first of a series of high-profile tennis tournaments. There has been no shortage of action.

The events come as the city seeks to develop its sports industry, which has much potential to draw tourists, creating what Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu described in his policy address as a “host-city economy”. A welcome government commitment to provide resources for elite athletes was reaffirmed, along with measures to improve their training, coaching, sports science and medicine. New facilities are on the way, with the opening of the Kai Tak complex next year. Much-needed centres for swimming and fencing are in the pipeline. They will increase Hong Kong’s ability to stage international events. Meanwhile, a review of the mechanism for funding top athletes and the pending results of an investigation into the governance of national sports associations offer an opportunity for improvements to be made.

The government is prepared to put its money where its mouth is, having allocated HK$940 million to the Sports Institute for 2024/25. But the successful development of sport cannot depend on public funding alone. There is a need for investment from the private sector too. It is, therefore, encouraging to see the World Games Series take place at the new Go Park Sai Sha, a venue developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties without the need for government funding. This could be a model for the staging of other major events. The Jockey Club has also contributed, providing the city’s successful Olympians with reward money totalling more than HK$17 million.

Hong Kong’s efforts to establish itself as a leading venue for elite sporting events are beginning to bear fruit. The world’s first wakesurf championships organised by an authority backed by the International Olympic Committee will be held here in November. The World Squash Team Championships will take place in December, with the sport to be included in the next summer Olympics. In March, a ranking snooker tournament will be staged in Hong Kong for the first time since 1989.

Exciting times lie ahead for the sport community. The most must be made of the opportunity. A sustained joint effort from the government, private companies and the sports sector can ensure the city not only excels in top-level competitions but serves as a vibrant hub for hosting them.