Today, tens of thousands of sporting fans begin gathering at the Hong Kong Stadium to be entertained by one of the most exciting and spectacular three days of sport on the international calendar. On the last weekend of every March since 1976, the Happy Valley area has consistently showcased all the reasons why communities around the world cherish the values of competitive sport. Indeed, the Hong Kong tournament has been so successful it has provided rugby with some of its greatest stars and now has considerable influence on how the traditional 15-a-side game is played. An international professional series is now in place and sevens has also been recognised as an Olympic sport.
One of the primary reasons for the success of the Hong Kong tournament is that the players, the organisers and the fans acknowledge and are at ease with the fact that sport has a symbiotic relationship with corporate sponsorship. There is no deluded romanticism about sport being overly sullied by commerce. There is no animosity between those in the stands and those in the corporate boxes. There are no soccer-like tantrums thrown at organisers or fans without whom there would be no tournament at all. The players appreciate that they would not have such a high status if it were not for the fans and the corporate sponsors and do their best to put on a show with a balance of competitiveness and good humour.
This year, Credit Suisse's 14-year sponsorship relationship with the tournament will come to an end, to be replaced by HSBC next year. In 1998, the initial sponsors, Peregrine, had to pull out after the effects of the financial crisis, and Credit Suisse's last-minute involvement effectively saved the tournament. The weekend's focus will deservedly be reserved for the action on the field, but the end of Credit Suisse's involvement is also an opportune time to remind ourselves that tournaments like these are only successful when every component shares an amicable relationship with each other - between the fans, the players, the organisers and the sponsors.
