Hong Kong's men's and women's teams claimed the Melrose Claymore titles at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens with stunning performances at Kai Tak Stadium yesterday.
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Amid thunderous chants, the men defeated China 38-5 to defend their championship, while the women triumphed over Kazakhstan 45-5 to claim their first title.
Argentina's Los Pumas won their first ever Hong Kong Sevens when they outmuscled France 12-7 in the final. New Zealand took the women's title for the third consecutive year after beating Australia 26-19.
Revelers - some wearing short sleeves - braved temperatures that dropped to 13 degrees Celsius and the occasional drizzle to keep the party going.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu was in the stands, watching the matches with wife Janet Lee Lam Lai-sim. He congratulated the men and women squads and another big winner - Kai Tak Sports Park.
Lee said Kai Tak Stadium "scored a try" by staging its first large-scale tournament - and that it is ready to host more.
Fans agreed. Australian Matilda, who has lived in Hong Kong for over a decade and has watched the Sevens for the third time, said the relocation of the event to the Kai Tak Sports Park has brought an even better atmosphere than before.
A local student, dressed in a dinosaur costume, said: "I think this venue is better because it's much larger than the Hong Kong Stadium. The fan village outside also has many stalls and games."
On issues during the first two days of the event, such as long queues at kiosks and sold-out refreshments, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said her bureau urged Kai Tak Sports Park to increase supply and manpower to support catering services.
Many Hongkongers were also immersed in nostalgia as a Cathay Pacific A350 passenger jet soared above Victoria Harbour, celebrating the city's aviation legacy that began a century ago in Kai Tak.
The 20-minute special flight demonstration featured flight CX8100 taking off from Hong Kong International Airport at around 4pm.
Cathay said the aircraft flew as low as 1,100 feet - slightly lower than the city's tallest building, the 108-story International Commerce Centre.
It went past Central, Wan Chai, North Point and the Kai Tak Stadium before circling back and returning to Chek Lap Kok airport.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Seven's community partner, said over 10,000 people of various ages, abilities, and backgrounds have participated in sports, including rugby, through the Jockey Club Sevens Community Programmes.
