Hong Kong Sevens delivers a winner in Kai Tak stadium
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Rugby Sevens has proven the new stadium at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park to be a great venue. Hats off to all involved in the stadium development on operations – the stadium project team, the organiser Hong Kong China Rugby, the government, the police and everyone else who have contributed to the redevelopment of Kai Tak, the stadium and the event.
As members of the Harbourfront Commission, I and others have been kept abreast of the metamorphosis of the Kai Tak Airport since 2004. Twenty-one years later, and before entering the stadium for the Sevens, I spent time walking around the neighbourhood. On my way back, I enjoyed watching from the promenade the
Cathay Pacific plane flying over the harbour in a surprise fly-past. I look forward to the gradual completion of the ongoing construction projects enhancing the vitality of the area.
Inside, I wandered around to as many areas as possible – the corporate suites, through the drunken south stand, the general corridors and the many staircases. The stadium is well designed with ample room to manoeuvre at full capacity.
There was some confusion over electronically locked doors, and concerns over sound quality, especially at the higher seats. I'm sure the stadium team has a list of adjustments to make.
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The
test events ensured the stadium, transport and police were synchronised.
Catering to the food cravings of the tens of thousands of attendees for the Rugby Sevens –
110,000 visits were recorded in total across the three days – could only have been tested during the actual event. The team will surely be even better prepared next year.
In short, bravo and congratulations. The new stadium is a very good facility to support Hong Kong's ambitions for events.
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