With the 15th National Games unfolding, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Honorary President for life Thomas Bach noted the Greater Bay Area (GBA) has all the necessary conditions to host the Olympic Games.
Bach made his comments when watching the rugby sevens event at the Kai Tak Stadium this afternoon. He was accompanied by local sports figures, including the president of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong (SF&OC) Timothy Fok Tsun-ting; honorary secretary general of SF&OC Edgar Yang Joe-tsi and head of the National Games Coordination Office Yeung Tak-keung.
Describing the newly established Kai Tak Sports Park as "exciting," Bach congratulated Hong Kong on its outstanding sports venue, which thoughtfully incorporates its historical context.
Bach highlighted that GBA is equipped with numerous world-class sports facilities that qualify it as a potential Olympic host.
Responding to whether GBA could bid for the 2036 Olympics, Bach agreed that this idea is worth exploring. He acknowledged that the venues may be dispersed, but the successful hosting of large-scale national events like the National Games positions Hong Kong and the GBA as strong candidates for future Olympic bids.
Discussing the necessary preparations for an Olympic bid, Bach noted that the region is progressing in the right direction, citing the increasing frequency of international events and ongoing efforts to build strong local teams as encouraging signs.
Following a meeting with President Xi Jinping during the Games' opening ceremony, sources indicated China's eagerness to deepen high-level cooperation and advance the development of sports and the Olympic movement.
