The Hong Kong Games (HKG), a major territory-wide, multi-sport event, has been held biennially since 2007, with Hong Kong's 18 district councils participating as competing units. The Games are organised by the Sports Commission (SC), coordinated by the SC's Community Sports Committee and co-organised by the LCSD, the 18 DCs, the SF&OC and the relevant NSAs. The HKG, which has enhanced community harmony by fostering a strong sporting culture, is one of the most important local sporting events attracting wide participation across the community.
Following the encouraging response to the 1st and 2nd HKG in 2007 and 2009 respectively, the 3rd HKG was held from May 14 to June 5, 2011 with more sports events, more athletes participating and a greater variety of public participation activities. The Launch Ceremony was held at Kowloon Park on June 21, 2010 to kick off the Games. The number of sports events were increased to eight by adding the two team sports of futsal and volleyball to the six sports of athletics, badminton, basketball, table tennis, tennis and swimming in the last Games. Athletes representing 18 districts increased from some 2 300 in the 2nd HKG to over 3 000 for the 3rd HKG. The 18 Districts' Pledging Ceremony was held at Kowloon Park on February 25, 2011 to premiere the Announcement in the Public Interest (API) and to introduce to the media districts' preparation work. A series of initiatives were launched to encourage more public participation, including a Countdown Ceremony, a grand Opening Ceremony and a Closing cum Prize Presentation Ceremony of the HKG, elite athletes demonstration and exchange, 'Cheering Team Competition for the 18 Districts', voting for 'My Favourite Sporty District', guessing the 'Overall Champion of the 3rd HKG' and the 'Dynamic Moments Photo Contest'. These public participation programmes attracted more than 300 000 people to join, resulting in a double participation rate as compared with that of the 2nd HKG.
A new publicity initiative in the form of a Games theme song was composed and sung by Joey Yung. Ten elite athletes, Wong Kam-po (Cycling), Fu Ka-chun (Snooker), Tsui Chi-ho (Athletics), Yip Pui-yin (Badminton), Cheng Kam-hing (Basketball), Chan Siu-ki (Futsal), Sze Hang-yu (Swimming), Ko Lai-chak (Table Tennis), Yang Zi-jun (Tennis) and Hui Pui-tak (Volleyball), were appointed as the 3rd HKG Ambassadors to help publicise the Games.
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Secretary for Home Affairs Mr Tsang Tak-sing, together with other officiating guests, strike a gong at the Launch Ceremony of the 3rd HKG to open the selection of athletes from Hong Kong’s 18 districts. |
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Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing (third left), presents certificates of appointment to Hong Kong Games Sports Ambassadors who helped promote the Games. |
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The Department organised the Elite Athletes’ Sports Demonstration and Exchange Programme for delegations from each district to prepare for the 3rd HKG. |
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