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Opinion
Hong Kong’s co-hosting of National Games is about much more than sport
It’s also a chance to display Greater Bay Area cooperation and a powerful lesson in civic pride for Hong Kong youth
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Ken Chu (LLD) is the chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group, with businesses in hospitality, leisure, entertainment, sports, wellness and education in China.
With China’s 15th National Games set for November, Hong Kong’s preparations are well under way. From Kai Tak Sports Park cutting its teeth on international events to the mobilisation of 15,000 local volunteers with training and test events, the city’s preparations signal that the Games are more than a sporting event. It is a platform for rethinking how Hong Kong engages with its Greater Bay Area neighbours, the city’s youth and the nation as a whole.
This year marks the first time that Hong Kong, together with Guangdong and Macau, will co-host the Games. It’s a powerful step forward for the Greater Bay Area, not just in sports cooperation, but in soft power and civic connection. It is already shaping new experiences for Hong Kong’s next generation, from students and athletes to volunteers.
At the heart of this effort is the HK$30 billion (US$3.82 billion) Kai Tak Sports Park, officially opened in March. Hong Kong’s largest-ever sports infrastructure investment features a 50,000-seat main stadium, a 10,000-seat arena and a 5,000-seat community sports ground. Since opening, it has hosted major events including the World Snooker Grand Prix and Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, which broke attendance records with over 130,000 tickets sold.
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