If you build it, they will come – to paraphrase the iconic line from the film Field of Dreams. That may have worked for Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner, but Hong Kong has a bigger dream and a far greater opportunity with the launch of Kai Tak Sports Park. This landmark sports and entertainment complex not only includes a 50,000-seat stadium but will also serve as a centre for community sports development, food and drinks, as well as retail. The legendary Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament will showcase the new venue to audiences worldwide later this month. Beyond the impact of the new stadium, mega-events are important proof points for Hong Kong’s positioning as Asia’s events capital and the world’s meeting place. The recent LIV Golf tournament at Fanling brought sports and entertainment together in a world-class event. Coldplay’s shows at Kai Tak will continue the momentum. But – to continue the sport metaphors – this is a marathon for Hong Kong, not a sprint. Hong Kong’s traditional strengths as a global finance and logistics hub are obvious, but sport has been moving up through the pack over the years. For a city better known for young people who aspire to be bankers, lawyers, doctors or heirs to the family business, Hong Kong has a surprisingly good track record for both elite and community sports development. The sports ecosystem in Hong Kong is accessible, diverse, vibrant, successful and, above all, international. Over the years, we’ve had 375 Olympic athletes; at last year’s Paris Olympics, we won four medals. At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Hong Kong won a record 53 medals. Cycling, trail running, sailing, swimming and, of course, dragon boat racing lead the long list of sports that flourish with Hong Kong’s mix of harbours, mountains and urban facilities – the city has one of the highest densities of swimming pools per capita worldwide. Today, sports is not only a multibillion-dollar global industry but also serves to bridge cultures, engender national identity, foster ethnic pride, raise soft power and promote social harmony. That’s why many countries and cities invest heavily in nurturing athletes, promoting sports and building quality facilities. Hong Kong is no exception and is striving to capitalise on its East-meets-West orientation. The three main foundations of sports development in Hong Kong are the government, sports associations and private enterprise. The government listed five pillars of sport in its 2024 policy address, providing an action-oriented blueprint to build infrastructure, attract mega-events and commerce to the city, and develop talent and promote sports in the community. There are 85 National Sports Associations that govern and promote their sports and represent Hong Kong internationally. The Hong Kong Jockey Club also plays an important role, both in the racing, entertainment and sports betting sectors, as well as returning money to the community and charitable causes: HK$40.1 billion (US$5.16 billion) in the last financial year. International sports businesses have a timely opportunity to enhance Hong Kong’s place on the world’s sporting pitch and drive new revenue. Simultaneously, their involvement will help develop sports from the neighbourhood to the global elite level. Hong Kong hosts the regional headquarters and shops of many sport-related brands including Adidas, Li Ning, Nike, Lululemon and Under Armour. These brands provide sponsorship, employment and world-class sports development expertise. To help maximise the value of our sports assets and meet our regional and global sporting event ambitions, Hong Kong needs international events management, agencies and promoters of all sorts. In addition to helping to avoid some of the recent event management pitfalls, their experience in drawing global audiences to mega sports and entertainment events is invaluable. One example is Liberty Media Corporation, owner of Formula One and Live Nation Entertainment. As the government knows, mega-events have a tremendous positive impact on the city’s image, tourism and the transport, hotel, food and drinks, events and retail sectors. Hong Kong’s unique geography is ideal for sports such as mountain biking, kiteboarding and rock climbing, but because of a small participation base, these sports are unlikely to take off without international brand sponsor support and event promotion. Sports medicine and rehabilitation present further opportunities for Hong Kong to be a Great Bay Area or global hub. Our universities and the Hong Kong Sports Institute can facilitate collaboration with more leading pharmaceutical companies, sports research clinics and universities with expertise in athletic healthcare. We have a distinct edge in our seamless blend of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with modern Western medicine. Acupuncture and cupping therapy, for example, are well recognised and widely used by world-famous athletes in their training and recovery, and these TCM practices, together with herbal medicine, are well integrated in our healthcare system. Furthermore, our sports tech is flourishing. Tertiary education institutions in Hong Kong have begun applying artificial intelligence to help athletes recuperate and achieve better performance. Hong Kong can build on this, fostering closer cooperation with overseas start-ups and international sport tech companies to explore ways to, say, enhance stadium spectators’ experience and streamline ticket-buying processes. In this global era of increasing nationalisation, politicisation and financial challenges, Hong Kong has the opportunity to nurture its sports to transcend boundaries, attract global audiences, elevate community sports and drive economic opportunities. Kai Tak Sports Park can mark the beginning of our dream come true if Hong Kong can be smart in leveraging the capabilities and networks of global private enterprises.