The upcoming 15th National Game is set to expedite grassroots participation and industry development in the city’s sports scene, Yeung Tak-keung, head of the National Games Coordination Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said at a media event on Tuesday, adding that his team is delivering a final push to “set up all the stages” for competitors across the nation to perform at their best.

The 15th National Games will be co-hosted across the Hong Kong and Macao SARs and cities in Guangdong province from Nov 9 through 21.

Over 400 medal events across 34 sports will feature in the quadrennial sporting gala, with Hong Kong staging eight sports. Twenty-three sports will also be hosted as mass participation events during the meet.

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Yeung said the sheer scale of the Games necessitated the mobilization of extensive professional expertise from government departments, local sports bodies, and the private sector – such as marketing and broadcasting services — substantially boosting the city’s capacity to host major events.

He added that the co-hosting model has created a crucial link for Hong Kong with its Chinese mainland and Macao counterparts, providing invaluable insights into best practices for operating such large-scale sporting spectacles and fostering mutual development.

Yeung highlighted the Games’ role in helping cultivate a “home-turf culture” in Hong Kong. “Robust public participation — whether via live attendance or broadcast viewership — is essential for developing a place’s sports industry and appeal as a sports event host, noting that “without spectator support, it would be difficult to drive industry development in the world of sport.”

He said that his team has worked for over two years to “set the stage for all athletes to perform at their best”, and expressed his hope that audiences will enjoy the upcoming spectacle.

Beach volleyball will begin in Victoria Park on Oct 31, with men’s handball starting at Kai Tak Sports Park on Nov 1. A cross-border cycling road race will take place in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao on Nov 8.

Yeung said that fencing, rugby sevens, and cycling offer particularly strong medal hopes for Hong Kong teams, given recent high-profile success in these disciplines.

On a personal note, Yeung said, “I’ve always enjoyed watching sports I participated in when I was young, like handball and basketball, and I’ve taken up golf in recent years … I will watch these with great interest and look forward to everyone joining me in showing their support.”

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Local broadcaster ViuTV has will provide round-the-clock live coverage of the Games on its Cantonese (Channel 99) and English (Channel 96) channels.

Clement Chung, general manager at ViuTV, said that pre-Games programming will begin on Oct 31, followed by a live broadcast of the opening ceremony on Nov 9. The network, its four digital channels, and social media platforms will air over 150 hours of Games’ events, he added.

The announcement follows a similar pledge from Television Broadcasts Limited, which will also provide live coverage of the Games on its four free-to-air channels, streaming services, and social media platforms, while offering competition highlights and team news.

Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com