'Ah, the Hong Kong Sevens, the world's best sevens tournament. It is a pity Argentina has still not won here. Maybe this year,' said Forrester longingly. The closest Argentina came was in 2004 when they lost to England in the final.

If, by any chance, you bump into Forrester and his band of Argentine supporters in the stands today, wish them well, for they are devout followers of this carnival which gave the world sevens rugby in its current form.

If Ned Haig, the butcher from Melrose, Scotland, who is credited with conceiving the abbreviated game back in 1883, was to witness the Hong Kong Sevens today, he wouldn't believe his eyes.

A Fijian rubbing shoulders with a Chinese, an American meeting a Russian, or a towering Englishman sitting next to a tiny Tunisian.

This is truly a melting pot of cultures. The mix of players from all over the world is best highlighted in Hong Kong, the biggest sevens tournament of all at 24 teams.

And then take a look at the crowds. Just glance at the person sitting next to you. Is she from Thailand or China? Is that bloke impersonating Elvis from Graceland, or is he Canadian?

Why aren't the sarong-garbed Sri Lankans cheering? Is their team already out? Indeed, it is a potpourri of races.

New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said no other tournament in the world could match up to Hong Kong. He should know as he has been hanging around since 1994.

'Wellington is good, but Hong Kong probably has an edge because it gets a huge cross-section of support.

'You get people supporting England as well as New Zealand. It gives all teams a fair backing, and makes it a truly neutral venue,' said Tietjens.

And on the lure the Hong Kong Sevens has for the players, Tietjens says: 'Years ago, Hong Kong was the only sevens tournament in the world and this gives it a special place in the hearts of all the players. It still remains there, and this is the one we all want to win.'

Sentimental value aside, the Hong Kong Sevens' biggest legacy is that it has been instrumental in popularising sevens around the world. Every rugby player, or fan, around the world has heard of the Hong Kong Sevens.

They have heard of how Jonah Lomu strode like a colossus and how Campo did the goose step. They have heard stories of how the indefatigable Eric Rush played on and on, and how the magic of Waisale Serevi enthralled everyone.

Like the players, fans too have made their names here, from the Pieman to Catwoman. As Tietjens pointed out, in the beginning there was only Hong Kong - and Hong Kong knew how to throw a party.

This increased profile of sevens resulted in the International Rugby Board realising this shorter version could be the perfect vehicle to promote the game across the globe. And what better way to give all aspiring nations a chance to revel on the world stage than a Sevens World Cup, the first in 1993.

Of course, it was also another revenue-making exercise and, being held between the 15s World Cups, was just perfect for the bean-counters.The World Cup was followed by multi-sports events including sevens as a medal sport. The first to do so was the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. Sevens is now a part of the Asian Games, having been played in Pusan (2002) and Doha (2006). It will also be played in Guangzhou in 2010.

The Commonwealth Games has also followed, as has the World University Games and there is a possibility the next African Games will also have it on its medal roster.

What all this has done is continue spreading the sevens gospel. So much so the IRB is now using it to push open the door to the Olympics.

In 2005, rugby sevens came a cropper, losing out to karate and squash as International Olympic Committee delegates voted on which sports should replace baseball and softball, which had been voted out, at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Sadly the groundwork had not been fully done. The IRB had neglected women's rugby, and this didn't go down well with the powerful women's lobby inside the IOC which questioned why women had been ignored.

So rugby finished a poor third behind karate and squash, which also failed to get the final vote. So come the 2012 Olympics, there will only be 26 sports. Rugby will have to wait until the next IOC congress, next year in Copenhagen, before they can put their case again - this time for the 2016 Games.

'It is a real shame we failed last time. The Olympics have also missed out, for if sevens was in London, it would have been a huge draw,' said IRB chief executive Mike Miller.

'After the opening ceremony in 2012, the main stadium in London will not have any events until the second week. It would have been just perfect to have held a two-day sevens event. It would have been sold out and television would have lapped it up.'

These are both ingredients - a sold-out stadium and worldwide television coverage - which the Hong Kong Sevens perfected many years ago. It was this success which drew the attention of the IRB in the first place. A success which has spawned sevens tournaments all around the world and has the game knocking on Olympic doors.

Take a bow, Hong Kong.