World Games Series opens in Hong Kong, official praises event for promoting sport

The opening ceremony of the inaugural World Games Series in Hong Kong welcomed 88 athletes from 35 countries and regions on Friday, with a senior government official praising the role of the event in helping to promote sport in the city.

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, speaking at the event’s opening ceremony at the privately operated Go Park Sai Sha venue, called the competition a “perfect example” of the new site’s contribution to the sports sector and noted the best part was that its operation “does not cost the government a dime”.

“I am delighted to know that in the short time that [the venue] has come into existence, it has already been contributing a lot towards the promotion of sports in Hong Kong, as well as providing an excellent platform for international exchanges and cooperation in sports and related areas,” he said.

Wong also praised the organiser for picking Hong Kong as a host city.

“I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the International World Games Association and congratulate the association and Mr [Joachim] Gossow for your very wise choice of Hong Kong, this lovely city, as a host city for this wonderful event,” he said, joking that he sounded like a “second-hand car salesman”.

“You won’t regret your choice,” he added, addressing the association and CEO Gossow.