Leading athletes and influential performers from Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland will headline the grand opening ceremony of Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park on March 1, the city’s tourism chief said.
Some 8,500 tickets priced at HK$10 ($1.29) each will go on sale on Friday.
Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said the tickets will be available on the website of Urbtix — a government-run ticketing platform — from 10 am on Friday, and each user can buy up to two tickets.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government also stated that those who secure tickets online must collect physical ones at the park from Feb 27 to Mar 1, by presenting the electronic redemption vouchers they have brought along with their identification documents. The revenue from ticket sales will be donated to charitable causes.
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Another 8,300 tickets will be gifted to lawmakers, district councilors, community leaders, government guests, grassroots families as well as mentees from the Strive and Rise Programme — a government initiative to help youngsters from less-privileged households.
The remaining 16,800 tickets will be distributed to sponsors, partners and bodies related to the sports park’s construction and operation.
A 1.5-hour ceremony will be presented on the night of March 1 to mark the inauguration of the HK$31.9-billion facility.
The gala, divided into four parts to highlight Hong Kong’s role in sports and cultural exchanges, will kick off at 6:30pm and hosted by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu at the Kai Tak Stadium, the park’s centerpiece.
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Performers will include Hong Kong martial artist Donnie Yen Chi-tan and singer Joey Yung, alongside Chinese mainland youth icons Li Yuchun and Zhang Jie.
The event will also feature top athletes from the city, such as swimmer Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, badminton duo Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet, and table tennis player Doo Hoi-kem, and elites from the national teams including table tennis star Fan Zhendong and artistic gymnastics team leader Guo Qiqi.
Retired sports stars such as badminton ace Lin Dan and fencer Vivian Kong Man Wai will also take to the stage during the gala.
The events will be broadcast on four local television channels at 9:30 pm.
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Explaining why the event would not be live-streamed, Law said the decision was made after discussions with the production team and is a common practice for events of this scale.
The arrangement will allow viewers to enjoy optimal camera angles and timing for the performances, she added.
“The final lineup of performers may be subject to change, and the public can look forward to it,” Law hinted.
Law confirmed that the ceremony’s cost is well-managed. “This opening ceremony received strong support from the sports, cultural and performing arts sectors,” she said, noting that most performers only charged basic remuneration for hair designs, makeup and transportation, significantly alleviating costs.
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When asked about the possibility of a reunion performance by the “Four Heavenly Kings” — refering to Cantopop stars Andy Lau Tak-wah, Jacky Cheung Hok-yau, Leon Lai Ming and Aaron Kwok Fu-shing — Law acknowledged that the audience might be disappointed, citing challenges in coordinating their schedules but expressing hope for future opportunities to bring them together.
To ensure a smooth experience on the event day, Law advised attendees to collect their tickets at least a day in advance to familiarize themselves with the venue layout.
She also discouraged live-streaming of the event via portable devices, assuring those unable to obtain tickets that a high-quality broadcast will be available for free viewing at home.
The Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong’s largest-ever sports facility, is poised to become a landmark venue for sports and entertainment, further solidifying the city’s status as a global hub for major events.
