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Kai Tak Sports Park - the new sports and entertainment precinct being developed in Hong Kong - will not be ready for its planned 2023 opening date after delays in construction work, with the main 50,000-seat stadium now not set to open until 2024.

The adjacent indoor sports arena, which has a seating capacity of up to 10,000, has also slipped to mid-2024. However, a public sports ground designed for community sports, sports days, training sessions and domestic competitions, including 5,000 spectator seats, is still anticipated to open in late 2023.

The Sports Park has been designed by Populous and will be operated by ASM Global. The precinct is located beside the harbour at Hong Kong’s Kowloon Bay, and is designed to be a unique year-round destination with multi-purpose facilities.

Hong Kong Commissioner of Sports, Yeung Tak-keung advised that the COVID pandemic had delayed the supply of construction materials, and that opening of the US$3.82 billion (HK$30 billion) facility at the former Kai Tak Airport site, scheduled for 2023, would have to be moved back.

According to the The Standard newspaper, Yeung noted that many of the shipments have been affected by the pandemic, with most of the materials for construction having to be imported. Yeung shared “we have ordered many construction materials, such as steel and other component parts, but the shipment dates kept changing. Some suppliers were unable to provide the materials and (we) had to find other suppliers.”

Yeung also blamed delays on a shortage of workers.

However, Yeung believes the delay will not affect the 2025 National Games of China, which Hong Kong will co-host with Guangdong and Macau.

With a seating capacity of 50,000, the main stadium boasts a retractable roof and flexible pitch surface that can host a wide range of events in any weather.

The 10,000-seat indoor venue, in which 80% of the seats are retractable or removable, is designed to meet the standard needed to host major international tournaments including those in badminton, basketball, gymnastics, tennis and table tennis.

According to SCMP, the secretary general of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee, Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, said the sports community was disappointed by the delay but not surprised adding “we understand that the pandemic has brought a lot of problems to society and the construction of such large-scale facilities will definitely be affected. We have seen a lot of construction work on government projects having been delayed even without the pandemic.

“But the Kai Tak Sports Park is a landmark facility which has been the dream of Hong Kong sports over the years. Of course we want to see it completed as soon as possible, but there is little we can do, because of interruptions brought by the pandemic.”

Related Articles

10th November 2021 - Hong Kong Stadium to have capacity reduced to 5,000 after completion of Kai Tak Sports Park

1st June 2021 - ASM Global recruits for key positions at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports park

2nd March 2021 - ASM Global announce general manager - commercial appointment for Hong Kong Kai Tak Sports Park project

5th February 2021 - New Kai Tak Sports Park partnership aims to drive smart construction benchmarks

22nd December 2020 - Latest renderings released of Populous designed Hong Kong Kai Tak Sports Park

5th May 2019 - Populous sees Kai Tak Sports Park plan as setting a new multipurpose sport precinct benchmark

26th April 2019 - Darren Burden named SMG’s Project Executive Director for Hong Kong Kai Tak Sports Park project

25th April 2019 - Work commences on Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park development

28th December 2018 - Hong Kong Government awards contract for Kai Tak Sports Park development

15th October 2018 - Two proposals submitted for Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Parks development

23rd August 2018 - Mindful of competition Hong Kong needs new Kai Tak stadium

1st February 2018 - Suppliers sought for Kai Tak Sports Park project

17th January 2018 - Tender documents released for Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park project

1st September 2017 - Six bids submitted for HK$32 billion Kai Tak Sports Park project

2nd May 2017 - Invitation for prequalification of tenderers for Kai Tak Sports Park

23rd February 2017 - Ambitious plans revealed for HK$32 billion Kai Tak Sports Park

16th November 2016 - Hong Kong Government to stage Kai Tak Sports Park Opportunity Briefing

5th October 2016 - Hong Kong Government to tender Kai Tak Sports Park development in mid 2017

24th June 2016 - Hong Kong Government advances Kai Tak Sports Park Project

11th July 2015 - Hong Kong Government approves pre-construction funding for new Kai Tak Stadium

27th January 2014 - Hong Kong’s US$2.9 billion Kai Tak sports complex set for 2020 completion

14th August 2013 - Sports Hub at the heart of the redevelopment of Hong Kong’s Kai Tak airport site

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