Lo Suk-pui Confident in Hong Kong's 500+ Athletes for Nagoya Asian Games
SingTao · 3 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Culture, Sports and Tourism Secretary Lo Suk-pui expressed confidence in Hong Kong's athletes ahead of the Nagoya Asian Games, scheduled to open on October 19. The government expects to dispatch over 500 competitors, with the final roster to be unveiled at the September flag-raising ceremony. Recent positive results across multiple sports, including table tennis doubles teams reaching finals at major tournaments, have bolstered expectations. The administration has upgraded its funding approach, providing full sponsorship for Asian Games preparation compared to the previous 90% coverage.
Key Points
- Hong Kong will send over 500 athletes to Nagoya Asian Games, with the formal team announcement scheduled for the September flag-raising ceremony
- Table tennis representatives secured silver medals in men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles at the Swedish Grand Slam, demonstrating strong competitive form
- Government has increased Asian Games preparation funding to 100% coverage, up from the previous 90% subsidy, to allow more athletes to gain competition experience
- The Team Sports Development Programme, launched in 2018, now covers eight Asian Games team sports, supporting both first-team athletes and second-tier players to build a sustainable talent pipeline
- The Kai Tak Sports Park, operational since March 2024, has already hosted major events including the National Games, Rugby Sevens, and World Snooker Championship, contributing significantly to the local economy
Why It Matters
The Asian Games performance will test Hong Kong's sports development strategy, which has received enhanced government investment and a new focus on supporting team sports and emerging athletes. With sports-related activities accounting for 1.2% of GDP and creating thousands of temporary jobs during major events, the outcomes could reinforce Hong Kong's growing sports industry and its contribution to the broader economy, particularly as the city targets 53.8 million visitors by 2026 .
The Asian Games performance will test Hong Kong's sports development strategy, which has received enhanced government investment and a new focus on supporting team sports and emerging athletes. With sports-related activities accounting for 1.2% of GDP and creating thousands of temporary jobs during major events, the outcomes could reinforce Hong Kong's growing sports industry and its contribution to the broader economy, particularly as the city targets 53.8 million visitors by 2026 .