Hong Kong: Asia’s sports hub

Much of Hong Kong’s appeal rests on its dual nature: a city framed by mountains, East meeting West, commerce and culture. That versatility now underpins its ambitions in sport too. Part arena, part entertainment grounds, Kai Tak Sports Park is central to the government’s wider plan to make the city an even stronger draw for global events.

For decades, Hong Kong has been synonymous with rugby sevens. Today, the city’s sporting calendar is expanding with football, fencing and tennis having already graced venues in Kai Tak Sports Park. “It is set to host an exciting line-up of large-scale events, including the long-awaited 15th National Games,” says Rosanna Law, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The ambition is backed with investment. In the 2025-26 financial year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has earmarked HK$9.2bn (€1bn) for promoting sports development. The goal is not just to host more events but to train athletes representing Hong Kong, China and foster a broader culture of sports and entertainment. “This experience provides a valuable blueprint for future large-scale events, instills a lasting passion for sport in the community and paves the way for more medals in major sports games,” adds Law.

Kai Tak Sports Park is designed with the community in mind. Its open spaces and dining quarter draw in residents as much as tourists, while its architecture and location encourage everyday encounters. This, alongside an impressive transport network, shows Hong Kong’s ambition to balance international appeal with local liveability. As Law sees it, the combination of infrastructure, experience and ambition is what sets the city apart. The next chapter, she says, will further establish Hong Kong as a global hub where sport, culture and community meet.

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Kai Tak Sports Park: A triumphant start

In March, a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 flew low over Kai Tak, commemorating a century of aviation at the site of the Kai Tak Airport which operated from 1925 to 1998.

The flypast during the 2025 rugby sevens tournament was also a curtain-raiser for the area’s next chapter, heralding the first mega event at the new Kai Tak Sports Park. The 28-hectare site was designed as more than just a stadium, and its first year has shown just how well that ambition has been realised. “It’s been a big achievement,” says John Sharkey, CEO of Kai Tak Sports Park. “We’ve had a million people coming to the stadium in the first five months and 7 million across the wider precinct.”

The concerts, including those from Coldplay and G.E.M., have proven the stadium’s acoustics, while July’s Football Festival brought crowds to their feet. For Sharkey, the highlights are sporting ones. Liverpool, AC Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur played at the stadium, including the first North London derby outside of the UK.

Sharkey points out that attendance at training sessions often exceeded that of the matches in other cities – a talking point in Europe, North America and Australia – and underlined the appetite for sport in the city. “Kai Tak is off to a really good start,” says Sharkey. “We’ve hosted sport, community sports, entertainment and destination events. It’s been a really good launch for us.”

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Greater Bay Area: Connecting people

The National Games of the People’s Republic of China is the country’s largest multi-sport event, held every four years and drawing top athletes to compete on a grand stage. The 15th edition takes place in Hong Kong for the first time with focal venues including Kai Tak Sports Park.

The 15th National Games, co-hosted with Guangdong and Macau, will highlight Hong Kong’s strong connectivity to the Greater Bay Area sporting network. The two-week event will test not only the athletes but also the city’s transport networks, venues and hospitality infrastructure. From the high-speed rail link with Guangzhou and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to ferries and flights, the National Games will show how seamlessly the city is connected to its neighbours.

“China is one of the world’s strongest sporting nations,” says Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism. “Hosting the National Games allows the public to witness top athletes from the Mainland and Hong Kong excel on the nation’s largest stage. It will foster immense pride, strengthen national identity and inspire younger generations to participate, ultimately enriching Hong Kong’s sports culture.”

Eight competition events will be hosted in Hong Kong, providing a showcase of the city’s organisational expertise and facilities. But the impact will be felt beyond sport. By co-hosting the National Games, Hong Kong reinforces its role in promoting the region’s competitiveness on an international scale. “This experience allows Hong Kong to present its charm as Asia’s world city,” says Law. “We will continue to leverage Kai Tak’s strengths to attract more world-class mega events and boost the development of sports and mega events in Hong Kong.”