Surfing ban makes Olympics a pipe dream for Hongkongers, while China teen eyes debut
- The sport made its debut at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and at this year’s Paris Games it will be contested in Tahiti
Teenager Yang Siqi will make history on Saturday when she becomes the first surfer to represent China at an Olympics, but experts warned Hong Kong’s chances of sending an athlete to any future Games were a pipe dream.
The sport made its debut at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and at this year’s Paris Games it will be contested in Tahiti. Alongside China, Hong Kong’s neighbours Japan and Indonesia have sent a total of five athletes to compete in the men’s and women’s shortboard.
But despite having 42 beaches managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), not only does Hong Kong not have any professional surfers, officials said they were struggling to promote the sport.
“We, as the official organisation to promote the sport are struggling to do so, it feels like [it is illegal] to host the Olympic sport where it’s convenient to people, [like] Big Wave Bay,” a spokesman for the Hong Kong Surf and Stand Up Paddle Association said.
Big Wave Bay is the only location on Hong Kong Island with access to waves suitable for surfing. However, the sport is banned on public beaches and those who break the rules could be fined HK$2,000 and face 14 days imprisonment.
In response to a request for a comment, an LCSD spokesman largely repeated the ordinance dealing with the ban, and said it was in place to protect swimmers.