Return on investment for Games bid is counted in social benefit

Friday's vote by Legco's home affairs panel to stop the bid for the 2023 Asian Games signifies a true lack of understanding of the many values such an event would bring to Hong Kong.

Too often in this city accountants and the 'old rules' of determining value are used, killing off many potential projects. Sports and the environmental sectors are two that are highly impacted by this short-sighted mentality. On the contrary, Singapore has excelled, as has China with the Olympics. Instead, we should look at the broad set of societal benefits that hosting the Asian Games would bring.

One of the main benefits would be less air pollution. By default, Hong Kong would finally have to do something to rid our streets of the vast, outdated diesel fleet that afflicts all of us.

As children train for events, they will become more aware of what they are breathing, the water they swim in, and the roads and trails they run or ride on. City planning will improve over time, as these participants become leaders of the city, knowing what it is like to play on a team, set goals and sustain a better lifestyle. This could even help to bring the end of Saturday work days, spurring a new industry in leisure on the weekends.

Hong Kong has a number of universities that are growing in regional and global excellence, but where are the sports? Why do we not have a good league of a variety of sports, season-long, that is contested among the universities?

This would drive spirit and involvement at school, and could help develop athletes for participation in international events, including some of the mainland's growing pro leagues. Sports excellence also helps students get into universities, as schools want diversity, teamwork and leadership skills. Good grades are not enough.

An investment today will pay off in so many ways that the typical bean-counters of our town would not even know how to calculate all of the upside factors. It is time to be bold and go where the rest of the developed world has already gone.