It might not be the most appropriate time to bring this up with our leaders - incumbent and hopeful - who are both up to their necks in all sorts of personal problems. But Donald (Tsang Yam-kuen) and Henry (Tang Ying-yen), please spare a thought when you have a moment of sanity to the possibility of a renewed attempt to land the 2023 Asian Games.
Our chief executive, and the pretender to his throne, might not be aware that the 2023 Asian Games is still up for grabs what with all the other headaches facing them. But a decision taken by the Olympic Council of Asia to revoke plans to decide both the hosting cities for the 2019 and 2023 Asian Games at its next general assembly - in Macau this November - has given a fresh lease of life to any hopes Hong Kong had for the 2023 Games.
Having seen the farce conducted by Fifa in deciding the cities for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the OCA has backtracked quickly and will now only vote on the 2019 host city this November. The city for the 2023 Asian Games will be most likely decided at its general assembly in 2016.
Hong Kong, which turned down the opportunity to run in the race for 2023, now has time to reconsider its decision. And this time the goalposts have been moved with the OCA revealing it would not be averse to a joint bid from Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen.
A singular bid would be best as it would then fall upon this city alone to prove it can put on a show. It would be easier planning and running the event on your own than with partners. Yes, it may cost more, but in the end with a prudent approach - the estimate last time was only HK$6 billion for operational costs - it can be pulled off.
A joint bid on the other hand spreads the expenditure and resources needed. Both Macau and Shenzhen have sporting facilities that are new and well-equipped. Macau hosted the 2005 East Asian Games and has quality facilities, while Shenzhen hosted the World University Games with much success last year.
Sharing the Games would kill all opposition from those people who say sporting events lead to countries going into debt. Greece is the worst example. The Athens Olympics in 2004 is blamed as one of the main reasons why the country is in hock to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to the tune of hundreds of billons of euros.
