By Dr. Kevin Lau
During overseas visits, the Chief Executive often emphasizes the importance of telling Hong Kong's story. To effectively convey this narrative, there is no better way than to successfully host large-scale events that showcase the post-pandemic vibrancy of Hong Kong to the international community. Two years from now, the 15th National Games will be jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau has expressed its hope for Hong Kong to host eight events, including fencing, windsurfing, track cycling, football, golf, rugby sevens, beach volleyball, and handball. The final decision awaits approval from the General Administration of Sport of China.
Many people can readily recall which cities hosted the Olympic Games and the World Cup, highlighting the positive impact that successfully hosting sports events can have on the reputation of a city and a country. Additionally, there are numerous practical benefits. It's no secret that sports are a multi-billion dollar industry. Large-scale sports events can have a significant positive impact on the economy of the host region. For example, the 2010 New York City Marathon generated a $340 million economic boost for the city. Moreover, hosting sports events creates employment opportunities, not just for athletes, but also for various professions related to spectator sports, such as coaches, referees, managers, sports venue operators and staff, and frontline workers.
To tell Hong Kong's story effectively, apart from organizing the event successfully, local athletes must excel in their performances to unite the hearts of all citizens. In this regard, the government has a responsibility to provide effective support to elite athletes participating in the event. This includes establishing a more flexible education system that aids the development of elite athletes, and this system should commence even before athletes enter tertiary institutions. In other words, primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong can offer more flexible learning models for elite athletes, allowing them to balance their studies with professional training and competition.
Sports can serve as a platform for citizens to come together and show support for their country. Even if we look beyond the Olympics and the World Cup, one can observe how large international competitions like the 2023 World Swimming Championships, which I have been watching every evening these past few days, can bring people together and display national pride and unity. Therefore, from both an economic and a spiritual perspective, it is imperative that we host the National Games successfully.
The author is a specialist in radiology with a Master of Public Health from the University of Hong Kong, and an adviser of Our Hong Kong Foundation.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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