Let our swimmers make waves before cheering crowds
This past weekend, a qualifying competition for Hong Kong’s Olympic swimming team was held at the Sports Institute but the public was not allowed to attend. This was just days after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that Hongkongers would be able to watch the Paris Olympics on television for free.
In several countries, the Olympic trials are open to the public and often sold out. This year in the
United States, the demand has been so great that the Olympic trials for swimming will be held at a football stadium which seats over 60,000 people, with the use of temporarily installed pools.
The Sports Institute, which has a swimming venue with seating for 1,500 people, has done a great disservice to both today’s athletes and tomorrow’s. It thwarted a chance for athletic development through competitions with cheering audiences, and for up-and-coming swimmers to be inspired by their heroes.
With government funds being spent on top athletic performance, and Lee’s vision of the Olympics being watched by everyone, this is an example of city institutions not hearing each other’s calls to action.
The public pays for the Sports Institute, but when I asked why the public could not attend, I was told that it was the policy. I do not believe there are many studies which show that athletes can excel at large global sporting events by taking part in competitions held behind closed doors without the excitement and unplanned situations arising from the presence of an audience that need to be navigated to perform well.
Why does this policy exist? Is it related to outdated health worries about public interaction or the hope of creating a bubble of safety, although this will never be replicated in any other city or event?
If such a policy is needed at the Sports Institute, perhaps such events should be organised in pools outside the institute as there are enough in Hong
Kong of high quality that can be used for Olympic qualifying-type competitions.
Sports and athletes can change the world if given the chance to inspire those who are able to see them perform. This is why Lee is bringing the 2024 Olympics to Hong Kong’s audience without pay-perview barriers. It would therefore be great for the Sports Institute to follow that lead, optimising its events and the competition skills of athletes and those in the city who might be inspired by them.