In recent years, Hong Kong’s athletes have been garnering favorable results in international competitions, sparking a sports fever citywide. Following the remarkable harvest of one gold, two silver, and three bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, Hong Kong athletes continued to triumph at the Hangzhou Asian Games, bringing home eight gold, 16 silver and 29 bronze medals — a record-breaking total of 53 medals, surpassing the 46 medals won at the previous Asian Games in Jakarta.

As our athletes continue to shine on the international stage, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government must not only increase resources for training athletes, but also strategically plan to foster the commercialization of sports in order to attract more talent and business investment to promote sports development.

Since the start of the latest edition of the Asian Games, Hong Kong elite athletes have continually delivered good news. Fencing, golf and swimming teams have snagged gold medals. The most delightful surprise, however, was the performance of the Hong Kong soccer team, ranked 148th globally. They defeated Palestine and faced Iran, ranked more than 120 places above them, in the quarterfinals. Despite previous losses, the Hong Kong team, with their tenacity and excellent coordination, scored a winning goal in the second half, creating a great upset. Although they lost 0-4 to Japan, ranked 15th globally, in the semifinals, they put up a spirited fight and provided a thrilling match for fans. While they did not win, their performance was still thoroughly respectable. 

Hong Kong athletes’ successes in international competitions undoubtedly bring joy to residents and stimulate public interest in sports, setting an example for young people to realize their personal dreams and values.

It’s important to note that sport is not just a component of “soft power” but also a significant economic value generator. The authorities should take advantage of the Asian Games’ momentum to promote the commercialization of sports development, making it sustainable. The economic and employment benefits of leveraging the industry for sports development are well-documented. For example, the Hong Kong Sevens — a rugby sevens tournament held annually in the city — not only involves match operations, sports marketing and broadcasting, but also drives sales of related merchandise like sneakers, jerseys and special edition rugby balls. It also brings in many visitors from overseas to watch the games, benefiting stadiums, hotels and eateries. If other sporting events could be successfully commercialized, athletes would have opportunities to make a name for themselves and stimulate sectors like sports management, sponsorship systems and sports tourism. Young people would see a future where they can still pursue a career in related jobs after retirement from sports, and be more motivated to join the ranks of athletes.

In addition, the authorities should proactively bid to host more international events, promote the internationalization of local sports, attract domestic and foreign athletes to visit Hong Kong, and develop the “sports tourism” industry. 

Hong Kong will co-host the 2025 National Games with Macao and Guangdong province, which could be an important catalyst to help lift Hong Kong’s sports industry to new heights. 

The allure of this event is no less than that of the Asian Games, and the broadcasting rights alone should generate considerable revenue for Hong Kong. If successful, the National Games will attract many spectators to Hong Kong, who will boost consumption.

With the government’s leadership and society’s concerted efforts, the future of Hong Kong’s sports industry is bright. The upcoming co-hosting of the 2025 National Games is a golden opportunity for the transformation of the local sports industry, and promises Hong Kong significant economic benefits and a global audience. Hong Kong must embrace the challenges and seize this momentous opportunity.

The author is the convener at China Retold, a member of the Legislative Council, and a member of the Central Committee of the New People’s Party.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.