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Editorial
Hong Kong Sevens proves to be in rude health on 50th anniversary
The rugby tournament has emerged from the pandemic and a venue change with record attendance and a bright future
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Editorials represent the views of the South China Morning Post on the issues of the day.
To become an international sporting venue, it helps to have an iconic event that appears on the bucket lists of sports fans worldwide. With its 50th anniversary tournament, the Hong Kong Sevens has now consolidated that claim several times over.
It bounced back from the pandemic when the city needed a morale booster. Last year, it emerged even stronger from a move to a new venue that tested fun-loving fans’ loyalty. Now it has confounded concerns that geopolitical tension and wars would dim its attraction, posting a record official attendance over three days of 113,395.
Plaudits flowed in from home and abroad after the third and last day of player and spectator action at the world-class Kai Tak Sports Park. Highlighting Hong Kong’s “growing presence” on the world sporting stage, World Rugby CEO Brett Robinson said the city was increasing its influence as a “significant global player”.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a post on his official Facebook page that the city would continue to “harness the vitality of the Hong Kong Sevens to showcase its charm and multiculturalism as an international events capital”.
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