Opinion | A retractable pitch flowing into a harbour amphitheatre – here’s the Kai Tak Sports Park design you will never see
- Losing tender for the HK$30 billion project designed a main stadium with a sliding grass pitch to form another arena outside on the waterfront
- Not even Sebastian Coe could win over the government with their promise to set a new standard for sporting excellence at all levels
The consortium led by Guangzhou R&F Properties is reluctant to go public with what Hongkongers will be missing out on, but the design was built around a grass pitch that would slide out from the main stadium and create an amphitheatre for sports and entertainment on Hong Kong’s iconic harbourfront.
The consortium admitted it took a risk with its design but believed it delivered a sustainable park that would serve the interests of sport, entertainment and local communities.
Despite having heavy hitters such as 2012 London Olympics chief Sebastian Coe and architects Foster & Partners on their team, they came late to the party after other consortiums lost interest and felt they needed to do something different to chase down front-runners New World Development.
Athletics great Coe said in bid documents seen by the Post that the Kai Tak Sports Park represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to set a new standard for sporting excellence in Hong Kong at all levels from schoolchildren and communities to elite professional sports.
“From my experiences with Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, I know that Kai Tak Sports Park needs to be more than just new facilities if it is to be successful: Hong Kong’s people must take the park into their hearts and make it come alive,” Coe said.