Hong Kong to co-host 2025 National Games with Guangdong and Macau

Authorities reached a preliminary consensus with Guangdong and Macau to co-host the 2025 National Games, acting secretary for Home Affairs Jack Chan Jick-chi said. 

In the Legislative Council’s finance committee special meeting on Tuesday, Chan said the 2025 games will be a “highlight” in the city’s sports development. 

“Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Sports Yeung Tak-keung is already in talks with his Guangdong and Macau counterparts,” he said. 

“They have reached a preliminary consensus to hold sports events popular among Hongkongers in the city, and the final decision will be announced by China’s General Administration of Sport,” Chan added. 

Lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said he hopes fencing, cycling and various ball game events can be held here. 

“I hope Guangzhou citizens can come to Hong Kong to watch the games, while Hongkongers can go to Macau and Guangzhou matches by that time,” Cheng said. 

He called on the government to make use of this opportunity to step up cooperation in sports development within the Greater Bay Area. 

Cheng, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday, also voiced his concerns in today's meeting regarding the Hong Kong Basketball Association’s withdrawal from the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. 

Yeung said he immediately got in touch with the Basketball Association after learning of the incident on Friday, and it replied Monday night that it is hoping to join the competition again. 

This came after local media found that the Hong Kong team was not on the list of teams participating in the qualifiers last Friday, which drew fire from local basketball players. 

The Basketball Association apologized in a statement released on Monday night saying that it was a mistake in communication, and as Hong Kong’s Covid situation is on a downward trend it has contacted the competition organizer to allow the Hong Kong team to participate.