The advantages of hosting major multi-sport events in Hong Kong are too significant and wide-ranging to judge solely on the basis of whether the events will "break even", an athletic expert contends.

Releasing her findings of overseas athletes' perceptions and their resultant economic benefits during last year's East Asian Games (EAG), Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) professor of physical education Cheung Siu-yin said the public should be mindful that major sports events have far reaching effects on a city's economy.

Cheung said the real benefits of hosting major events were in ripple effects. She cited findings showing 77 percent of some 170 overseas East Asian Games athletes took home a positive image of Hong Kong. About 71 percent said the city was a good value-for-money destination. Almost as many of the athletes, 70 percent, said they would recommend visiting Hong Kong to their families and friends.

"There are wide ranging benefits, such as temporary and full time job creation, tourist spending and the marketing of native brands," she said.

The HK$240-million East Asian Games were criticized as a white elephant that suffered poor attendance and half-full venues during some of the less-popular events.

Even if the forecast 10,000 vistors had shown up for the East Asian Games and spent the average of HK$5,770 for overnight visitors, their combined HK$57 million did not come close to covering the expenses. Neither are broadcast rights, merchandising and local ticket sales likely to make up the shortfall.

As the government prepares the city for a January bid for the 2023 Asian Games, similar concerns have surfaced over the costs, initially estimated at HK$14 billion but downgraded to HK$6 billion after a flurry of criticism from lawmakers.

Echoing sentiments expressed by Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing that the games would bring about long-term benefits to society such as an expansion of nine new sports venues for the general public, she also noted that staging the games would raise the city's international profile.

Cheung said it would also foster the development of elite local athletes and improve the overall physical condition of the public.

The galvanizing effect of the Hong Kong soccer team's gold medal win over a heavily favored Japanese team at the EAG was felt throughout the city. But the head of the HKBU physical education department professor Chung Pak-kwong said a better way to improve public health would be setting standard work hours, introducing incentives for people to exercise, while improving school facilities and boosting the hours of physical education in curriculums from just over an hour a week to one hour everyday.

China Daily

(HK Edition 11/25/2010 page1)