Hong Kong policy address: 3x3 basketball, skateboarding, climbing target Olympics after urban sports pledge
- Representatives from 3x3 basketball, skateboarding and climbing welcome vow from city’s leader John Lee to promote ‘urban sports popular among young people’
- Lee also reveals plans for more sports facilities and hosting ‘at least 10 major international sports events in Hong Kong annually’
Hong Kong’s 3x3 basketball, skateboarding and climbing communities are hoping to target future Olympics after the city’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu vowed to promote urban sports in his annual policy address.
Lee on Wednesday outlined plans to support “urban sports that are popular among young people in recent years, such as 3x3 basketball, sport climbing and skateboarding”. All three of those featured in last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The city’s chief executive also pledged to “support the hosting of at least 10 major international sports events in Hong Kong annually”, by “enhancing” the government’s “M” Mark scheme – its list of flagship competitions, which includes the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, the annual marathon and golf’s Hong Kong Open.
And Lee revealed a 10-year blueprint for more venues, as well as a pilot scheme for careers and education for disabled athletes post-retirement.
Representatives from 3x3 basketball, climbing and skateboarding said the plans had the potential to transform their fortunes.
“We hope that with government assistance, we can field a three-on-three basketball team to compete in the Olympics in the coming years,” said Kenny Wong, vice-president of the Hong Kong Basketball Association.
