Kai Tak Sports Park set to stage first event

Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park is set to stage its first event on Sunday, with 1,500 spectators expected to attend a local second division football match between Sai Kung and Wong Tai Sin.

With the venue expected to officially open in the first quarter of next year, the test event at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground will see the access and egress systems, transport links and food and beverage options trialled.

Speaking in advance of the event George Tsai Kin-pan, Sports Commissioner of Hong Kong's Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, advised "it is expected that majority of the public will use the MTR's Tuen Ma Line. Appropriate instructions have been set up inside the station and along the road."

Venue staff will also be deployed to provide assistance along the road from Exit D of the nearest Sung Wong Toi station to the venue. The sports grounds' football pitch has been turfed and facilities such as grandstand seats, large LED display screens and toilets have been completed. However, the running track has yet to be finished.

Tang King-shing, Strategic Planning Director of Kai Tak Sports Park, said frequent rains in the past two months have affected the progress of laying materials on the track, which is estimated to be completed next month.

Major construction works have been completed, with the decorations also entering the final stage. Advising that he is confident that all construction work will be completed by the end of the year, Tang noted that relevant procedures have undergone rigorous testing in collaboration with government departments, including arrangements for ticket checks, security checks and seat-booking for spectators. Takeaway food and beverage services will also be provided.

In terms of transport, Tang said people can also choose to travel a little further to Prince Edward Road East, where they can take more than 50 bus routes on both sides of the Regal Oriental Hotel.

He noted “if there are bigger events in the future, the park will liaise closely with police, MTR and bus operators to ensure crowd-management arrangements are safe and orderly,"adding that introducing specific bus routes is being studied.

Other trial events will also take place at the venue, including a rugby match with 3,000 spectators next month.

Image: The Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground earlier this month.