Gay Games ‘will bring out Hong Kong’ – but no government funding and education ‘a long process’

Postponed event set to attract 30,000 participants and spectators to the city in November, but has faced challenges
Organisers raised over US$3million from sponsors in absence of government funding, and hope to help boost tourism and develop Hong Kong’s sports economy

Hong Kong Gay Games 2023

Mike Chan

Published: 11:30pm, 28 Mar 2023

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This year’s Gay Games, to be hosted by Hong Kong, is expected to welcome over 30,000 participants and spectators to the city in November.

Co-hosted with Guadalajara, Mexico, the 11th edition of the international multisport event and cultural gathering is heading to both Asia and Latin America for the first time in its 40-year history.

And the organisers have promised that the sports featured “will really bring out Hong Kong” when the Games commence.

“We have trail running making its debut,” Bon Ng, the Games’ director of sports, said. “We are looking at locations either on Lantau or Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong is among the world’s best trail-running locations, which is why we already have races like the HK 100 in the city.”

Ambassadors of GGHK gather after Tuesday’s press conference. Photo: Handout

After the Games were postponed by a year because of the pandemic, the Hong Kong section was scaled down to 22 sports, from 36, but dragon boat racing and mahjong – both boasting regional popularity – have made the cut.

Other new events include the lightsabre competition as part of the fencing programme, while dodgeball and ultimate disc are included, the latter as an exhibition sport to be played at King’s Park Sports Ground.

While choosing locations was made easier with the help of governmental departments and national sports bodies, Ng said education about the Games remained “a long process” and a difficulty in promoting the Games.

Despite endorsement from public-sector bodies, government funding has been lacking. The Games, a registered charity, worked with sponsors to raise over US$3 million (about HK$23.5 million).

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The sporting and cultural events are not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender participants, with everyone aged over 18 welcomed.

“The focus is to create an international-level competition where anyone regardless of orientation, personal competitive level and religion can participate and celebrate differences through sports,” Ng said.

“Hong Kong people are very open to a greater multicultural sort of community, but at the same time we are very conservative. We want to educate people on how to interact with a community that they may not have interacted with before.

“Hopefully, [the funding raised] is creating a framework for Hong Kong to be able to adopt, helping the city to develop a good sports ecosystem and sports economy.”

Hong Kong won the bid to hold the 2022 Gay Games after applying in 2017. Photo: Gay Games Hong Kong

Similar to previous Games, event locations will be spread around the host city. Swimming, tennis and track and field will be held at Hong Kong University’s Stanley Ho Sports Centre Complex, while road races of various distances will be staged at West Kowloon Cultural District, Science Park and Pak Tam Au in Sai Kung. Ng believes that will help to promote the city.

“Our transport system is among the best in the world – travelling from one venue to another is very easy,” he said.

“With Hong Kong being not that big, the Games is a chance for participants to tour around, too – this is the sports tourism we are talking about.”