Opinion | Hong Kong’s sporting teams need to think bigger – by looking beyond its borders

Joining leagues in mainland China or Japan could help bridge the huge gap that exists between Hong Kong’s domestic competitions and international level

Kai Tak Sports Park will bring a state-of-the-art 50,000-seat stadium that could sit empty for much of the year unless local sport sets bolder ambitions

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Kai Tak Sports Park’s facilities will be worthy of high-level action. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 7:08pm, 28 Nov 2022Updated: 10:03am, 29 Nov 2022

The news that Eastern are paving the way to join the Chinese Basketball Association should be a signal to other clubs in Hong Kong that the time has come to embrace professional leagues on the mainland.

Playing in the CBA can only help to improve the standard of the sport in Hong Kong, and should, in theory at least, have a knock-on effect when it comes to the city’s team competing internationally.

There is nothing to stop Hong Kong wanting to make the Olympics in basketball, be it full court or 3x3, but wanting to do something and putting the structures in place to succeed are two very different things.

If success beyond Hong Kong’s borders is the goal for any serious sporting organisation locally – and if it isn’t then how serious can you be – competing against those better than you on a regular basis is essential.

Eastern have shown ambition by setting targets beyond being the best in Hong Kong. Photo: Hong Kong Eastern

Eastern have at least looked beyond the city before, and their performances in the Asean Basketball League suggest the CBA is the next logical step in the club’s development.

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