Hong Kong aims to host a World Cup Classic at the planned HK$600 million, state-of-the-art velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. The city's first international-standard velodrome should open in 2013, Hong Kong Cycling Association deputy general secretary Wong Yiu-wah said. Interest in the sport was boosted by the success of Hong Kong's young guns at the weekend. Kwok Ho-ting and Choi Ki-ho won the gold medal in the men's Madison at the World Cup Classic in Beijing, while Lee Wai-sze clinched bronze in the women's keirin. Kwok also won silver in the points race. 'The Tseung Kwan O venue may not be the best in the world but will certainly be one of the best in the region,' Wong said. 'Our plans will be to bid for top international events when this new venue is ready, not only the World Cup but also the world championships.' The Legislative Council last week approved a budget of HK$1.2 billion for the construction of a Town Park in Tseung Kwan O that would include the velodrome, located next to the Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground, the main athletics venue for last month's East Asian Games. Subject to the formality of final approval by Legco's finance committee in six weeks, construction could start as early as March. The velodrome would be equipped with a 250-metre wooden track and facilities meeting international standards, including a grandstand with 2,000 permanent seats and 1,000 portable seats. Other features will include fitness and weight-lifting rooms. Wong said a series of successes on the international stage fully justified the need for such a venue despite its high construction cost. In 2007, Wong Kam-po (left) became the first Chinese cyclist to win a gold medal at the world championships in the men's scratch race in Mallorca, Spain. Hong Kong's most successful cyclist also won gold in the points race at the World Cup Classic in Copenhagen last year and has qualified for the past three Olympic Games. Kwok was the champion in the scratch race at the World Cup Classic in Melbourne in 2008. In the women's competition, Wong Wan-yiu won a World Cup Classic in the points race in 2008, prior to the Beijing Olympics. 'We have identified and developed many home-grown talents with only an outdated facility at the Sports Institute, and I am sure the development of track cycling will be lifted to another level once we can have our own venue,' Wong Yiu-wah said. Both Kwok and Choi, together with many other promising riders such as Cheung King-lok and Yuen Chi-ho, trained at the 350-metre cement surface outdoor velodrome in Sha Tin before they were promoted to the senior squad. But since there is no suitable track venue in Hong Kong, the senior squad have to train across the border in Longguang, Shenzhen and other mainland cities. 'We can minimise a lot of travelling hazards with a dedicated home facility and the venue can also attract more potential riders to join our development programmes,' Wong Yiu-wah said. The outdoor venue in Sha Tin was demolished this month to make way for a nine-storey facility as part of the institute's HK$1.7 billion redevelopment project. A temporary facility is under construction in Ma On Shan and will not open until April, forcing the Cycling Association to halt its youth training programmes and promotion activities.
