. . . or brewing fiasco?
I was saddened by the announcement that Hong Kong's bid to host the 2009 East Asian Games was successful.
These games are a fourth-tier event and the tourist dollars that they are supposed to generate surely will not materialise. This is yet another shameful example of our officials and politicians grasping at straws, even something as pathetic as the East Asian Games.
I remember clearly that during the fiasco surrounding the government's bid to host the 2006 Asian Games, Hong Kong was told that even if the bid was unsuccessful, the sporting associations would still be given the funding to take sport up a notch in Hong Kong.
Sadly, as we all predicted, the Sports Development Board completely lost interest in funding sports when Hong Kong lost the Asian Games bid. The money never materialised. It was, as ever, pie in the sky.
As a several-time competitor in the Asian Games, I am extremely keen for Hong Kong to progress in sport. Hosting this big white elephant, however, is not the way to do it.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
