appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Stephy Zhang

Cheers, music, and lights broke through the roof of the Kai Tak Stadium on Friday as fans old and new joined the opening day of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens for the “best weekend of the year”.
Following eight hours of action, 21 matches, and hundreds of points, the city’s Sports Minister Rosanna Law Shuk-pui and former Australian rugby player Michael Hooper performed the traditional “eye-dotting” ceremony for five dragons on the pitch at the start of a thumping opening ceremony.
Accompanied by lights and drums, the dragon dance formed the number “50,” followed by robot dances and large-scale laser projections.
The performance celebrated the 50th anniversary of the tournament and its second year at the new stadium since moving from Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay.
K-pop girl group Primrose and Filipino singer-songwriter Gwyn Dorado performed a medley of Korean and English songs, including Takedown, Don’t Stop Believin’, and Light Up.

The two acts also performed a duet of Zoo, the theme from Zootopia 2. The lyrics, “the only reason we are here is to celebrate in a place where anyone can be anything,” ignited the crowd.
The festive scene matched the sentiments of seasoned French expatriate Olivier and his friends, Nathalie and Beatrice, who earlier in the day described the Sevens as the “best weekend of the year in Hong Kong”.
Olivier’s history with the tournament spanned nearly 40 years and three different venues. The 62-year-old estimated he had attended the Sevens “maybe 25 times”.
Beatrice, 58, said the trio loved the “ambience” and the fact that “everybody is friends”. Nathalie, 57, wore the colours of the French flag on her nails because “the players can see us, they can see the colours and they can hear us”.
Also flying their flag were Karen and Stefan Ekernas, who dressed as the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam. The couple travelled from the United States for their first visit to the Sevens to cheer on their home team.
“We were just excited to support the USA and our home players. It was great to see them play and be able to see the world through rugby,” Stefan, 47, said.
For German couple Angela and Piet Eichholz, and their friends Annie and Helmut Heid, their country’s qualification for the tournament provided the perfect excuse for the two families to attend for the first time. Both couples were at Kai Tak to support their sons, Cedric Eichholz and Max Heid, who are members of the men’s national team.
“We wanted to support them and were happy to be able to experience this here in Hong Kong, at the 50th birthday,” Angela said.
Travel was difficult for the group because of a strike by staff at German airline Lufthansa, which meant they could only “fly one day before to get here”.
Boris Koch, however, had no such trouble getting to an event he has attended more than 20 times since 1996.
“I came almost every year; even when I was working in Singapore, I still came to the Hong Kong Sevens,” said the 56-year-old IT worker, who lived in Hong Kong for 13 years and has been based in Singapore for the past seven.
“I can’t stop recommending this sport to anyone, to visit Hong Kong and come for the Sevens, because it’s an amazing experience,” the South Stand spectator added.


Hong Kong Sevens dates released, world championship to again start in city

How ‘rubbish’ Olympic medal inspired New Zealand star Ruby Tui’s rush to greatness

Hong Kong Sevens proves to be in rude health on 50th anniversary

Hong Kong rugby legend Salom Yiu hunting next generation of local stars

Hong Kong Sevens

Rugby fans old and new celebrate ‘best weekend of the year’ at Hong Kong Sevens

Singer Gwyn Dorado performs in front of the South Stand as part of the opening ceremony for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Elson Li

The South Stand was typically lively on Friday. Photo: Elson Li

Gloomy weather can’t take shine off Hong Kong Sevens for visiting rugby fans

The Hong Kong Sevens got under way on Friday at Kai Tak Stadium.  Photo: Karma Lo

Stacking up empty beer cups on a snoozing rugby fan in the South Stand. Photo: Karma Lo

Fans are in party mood on the first day of the Hong Kong Sevens.  Photo: Elson Li

Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, day 1: Argentina, Black Ferns dominant, city’s men off to flyer

Hong Kong’s Liam Herbert breaks free of China’s defence at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Karma Lo

Sport

Rugby

K-pop girl group Primrose get spectators in the mood to party after hours of action on the pitch at Kai Tak Stadium


K-pop girl group Primrose get spectators in the mood to party after hours of action on the pitch at Kai Tak Stadium.


Hong Kong Sevens: Features

Rosanna Law Shuk-pui

Rugby fans old and new celebrate ‘best weekend of the year’ at Hong Kong Sevens

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}K-pop girl group Primrose get spectators in the mood to party after hours of action on the pitch at Kai Tak Stadium

K-pop girl group Primrose get spectators in the mood to party after hours of action on the pitch at Kai Tak Stadium