For more than six decades, the annual Festival of Sport has brought together the community through an array of sporting events ranging from popular sports like basketball and swimming to uniquely hong kong activities such as lion dancing and dragon boat racing.
The inaugural festival was hosted in 1958 and was a small event that saw children and curious citizens gather for two days of athletic fun. Held at the Queen Elizabeth II Youth Centre in Mong Kong, the festival was a collaborative effort among a number of sports associations, including the Amateur Sports Federation and the city’s Olympic Committee.
During the 1950s, Hong Kong was a rising economy under British rule with a predominantly low-income, working-class population. The citizens of Hong Kong during this era were particularly known for their strong work ethic and long hours spent working in factories and manufacturing jobs. With that in mind, the two associations brought together 11 other sports organisations to found the festival to engage the public and build interest in physical activities and sports.
Though small, the initial event had a great turnout, and it was immediately decided that the organising bodies would make it an annual event.
Through the event, the city's sports community promoted healthy living by engaging citizens in community sports. At the modest beginning of the festival, only a handful of sports, such as basketball, table tennis and athletics, were part of the event calendar. Despite the limited scope of the sports on offer, the event attracted thousands of participants and spectators.
As the event grew in popularity, it expanded to include a broader range of sports. Modern pursuits like skateboarding and parkour were among some of the sports added to the festival to appeal to a younger and more energetic crowd. The 66th edition of the festival, which kicks off with a carnival on 8 April, will be hosted over two months and include 60 events.
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