Mr. Wu, a Hong Kong citizen, used to fly here and now he watches performances here. This experience is quite wonderful. "On the evening of March 1st, he specially came to the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong to watch the opening ceremony." I am very happy to see Kai Tak Airport transform into a new landmark and look forward to seeing more international events and exciting performances here in the future. "Kai Tak Sports Park grandly opened on the 1st. This largest sports infrastructure project in Hong Kong not only provides a new stage for local and international sports events, but also becomes a new engine for Hong Kong to promote the development of the event economy and build a "city of events". The airport has transformed into a new landmark for sports, the Kai Tak Sports Park, covering an area of 28 hectares. It was originally located at Kai Tak Airport and was once the "heart" of Hong Kong's aviation industry. In 1998, after the airport was relocated to Chek Lap Kok, this land underwent a transformation. In 2006, the SAR government proposed the idea of building a multifunctional comprehensive sports park in Kai Tak. Construction began in 2019 and after nearly six years of careful crafting, it made a stunning debut. At the opening ceremony, the main venue of Kai Tak was packed with people, and exciting programs were staged one after another. The scene was full of excitement, with continuous applause and cheers. Miss Li, the audience member, exclaimed, 'It's so surprising, it's an unforgettable audio-visual experience.'. As a native of Hong Kong, she is very excited to see such a modern and multifunctional venue completed here. The main axis of the Kai Tak Sports Park is the covered Kai Tak Sports Avenue running north-south. The main venue, which can accommodate 50000 spectators, is a key building in the park. The exterior is designed with the concept of "Pearl of the Orient" and equipped with a retractable venue cover and advanced lawn system, which can meet the needs of various sports events and cultural activities in different weather conditions. The large glass curtain wall allows for a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of Victoria Harbour. In addition, indoor venues with a capacity of 10000 spectators and public sports fields with a capacity of 5000 spectators can host different competitions and also serve as community activities. The public rest spaces within the park are available for citizens to relax, take walks, and unwind. “ From setting sail in the sky to creating a new stage for sports, culture, and art, Hong Kong has once again soared into the sky and reached new heights The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam, couldn't hide her excitement at the opening ceremony, "Welcome friends to visit this new cultural and sports hall and experience the extraordinary charm of the dream stage." The construction of the Kai Tak Sports Park is an important measure of the SAR government's support for the development of sports in Hong Kong, which not only helps athletes and the industry develop, drives national sports, but also becomes a catalyst for the takeoff of Hong Kong's event economy. 2024 In March of the year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board established a special event expansion team to serve as the "first contact window" for event organizers, searching for different events to be held in Hong Kong. Looking back at the past period, Hong Kong's event economy has delivered impressive results: in 2024, there were over 240 event events in Hong Kong, which are estimated to have attracted more than 2 million visitors, bringing approximately HKD 7.5 billion in consumption and HKD 4.5 billion in economic added value to Hong Kong. The completion of Kai Tak Sports Park undoubtedly adds another boost to this trend. In March alone, there were already several heavyweight events scheduled, such as the Snooker World Grand Prix, the Kai Tak Flying Run, and the Hong Kong International Rugby Sevens. The Director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Special Administrative Region Government, Rosamund Law, stated that the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park marks the beginning of Hong Kong's "Sheng Hui Super March" and signifies the start of a series of large-scale events, further enhancing Hong Kong's attractiveness. The commercial development around the sports park is becoming increasingly mature, which will comprehensively drive economic growth. The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Paul Chan, stated that the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park has greatly enhanced the capacity, capability, and attractiveness of Hong Kong in hosting major events. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will continue to host various large-scale sports, entertainment, and cultural events throughout Hong Kong. The complementary advantages of various facilities enhance the reputation of "Capital of Major Events". The 15th National Games, the 12th National Para Games, and the 9th Special Olympics will be held in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area in November and December this year, with Hong Kong hosting multiple sports events. The Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong Cycling Centre and other venues are expected to attract over 100000 spectators from Hong Kong, mainland China and other regions to watch the competition. Li Jiachao introduced that Kai Tak Sports Park will complement the advantages of existing facilities in Hong Kong, further promote sports development, and promote the coordinated development of innovative entertainment, catering, conference and exhibition, and tourism. He hopes that Kai Tak Sports Park will continue to consolidate Hong Kong's reputation as the "Capital of Events" and shine on the international stage. To fully leverage the benefits of the event economy, the Hong Kong Tourism Board actively contacts local and overseas organizers, major music brands, etc., striving to settle the event in Hong Kong. The first half of 2025 event schedule released by the SAR government shows that Hong Kong will host at least 93 major events. The Deputy Financial Secretary of the Special Administrative Region Government, Wong Wai lun, estimated that there were about 840000 visitors participating in the major events in the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of over 50%. It is expected to bring about a consumption of about HKD 3.3 billion and an economic added value of about HKD 1.8 billion to Hong Kong. “ The SAR government will seize every valuable opportunity and actively promote the development of sports, cultural entertainment, and surrounding industries, making Hong Kong, the 'capital of major events', shine even brighter and telling the world the story of Hong Kong The Chief Secretary for Administration of the Special Administrative Region, Chen Guoji, said. Starting from sports, catering to the different needs of professional athletes and sports enthusiasts, and equipped with world-class venues and leisure and entertainment facilities, the new sports park brings international events to Hong Kong. We believe that the name of Kai Tak will once again ring in the world. (New Society)