Hong Kong will co-host the upcoming National Games next year for the very first time. Eight events, including fencing and track cycling, among the city’s strongest sports, will be held in various venues across town.
The announcement was made on Thursday after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led a government delegation to neighbouring Guangzhou for the inaugural meeting of the 15th National Games Organising Committee, of which he is an executive chairman.
“The [Hong Kong] government will adhere to the principle of ‘simple, safe and wonderful’ in organising the Games, making full use of existing venues and the soon-to-be-completed Kai Tak Sports Park,” Lee said.
He added that the triathlon would be held in Victoria Harbour and the Central harbourfront, showcasing Hong Kong’s picturesque landscape and unique characteristics to the whole country.
The Games, the nation’s highest-level and largest multi-sports event, will be held from November 9 to 21 next year.
Hong Kong will host the fencing, track cycling, rugby sevens, golf, triathlon, beach volleyball, men’s handball, and under-22 men’s basketball.
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Bowling will also be held as a mass participation event, allowing the local community to actively participate in the Games.
The new Kai Tak Sports Park – which has a 50,000-seat stadium, a 10,000-seat indoor centre and a 5 000-seat public sports ground and is expected to open next year – will host the handball, rugby sevens and fencing competitions.
Other events will be distributed across the city. The Hong Kong Coliseum will be used for basketball, the Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O will be the venue for track cycling, Victoria Park for beach volleyball, while the golf event will be held at the Fanling course.
Lee said co-hosting the National Games and Paralympic Games would be an excellent opportunity for Hong Kong to demonstrate its capability on running large-scale sports events.
He said the government attached great importance to preparations for the Games and would spare no effort in dovetailing with the requirements of the General Administration of Sport of China and maintain close contact with Guangdong and Macau authorities.
The National Games will commence with an opening ceremony in Guangzhou and conclude with a closing ceremony in Shenzhen.
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Football Association president Pui Kwan-kay said he was a bit disappointed matches were not included. “It would be best if football [events] could be held in Hong Kong, especially for the development of youth [football],” he said.
In addition to the National Games, Hong Kong will also host several events as part of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG). They will be held from December 8 to 15 next year.
These events, including boccia, wheelchair fencing, para table tennis (TT11) under the NGD, and table tennis under the NSOG. A mass participation event, para dance sport, will also be organised during these special Games.
