Make a Splash
WITH THESE 12 SPORTS! Hong Kong has a vibrant sports scene, and getting involved in a club is a good way keep fit and make friends. Many of the clubs offer great facilities too.
1 FOOTBALL
The world’s favourite game is also Hong Kong’s most popular sport – football (or soccer) is played all around the territory. Sign up for the Casual Football Network, which arranges weekly games at seven locations. (For the record, Hong Kong’s international ranking at press time was around 140th in the world, down from a high of 90th in 1996.)
hkfa.com | casualfootball.net
2 DRAGON BOAT RACING
Popular with locals and expats alike, Dragon Boat Racing is a fun sport that keeps you fit and lets you meet new friends. The Dragon Boat Festival in June sees international and local teams battle it out in fierce competition. Find out more from the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association.
hkcdba.org
3 RUGBY UNION
Hong Kong is mad about rugby! The vibrant rugby community welcomes players of all ages and abilities, and, with more than 45 men’s teams, 15 women’s teams and a host of kids’ clubs, there’s a team to suit everyone. And we’re all looking forward to the famous Hong Kong Sevens tournament being reinstated at the Stadium once the pandemic is done!
hkrugby.com
4 CRICKET
Cricket has been played in Hong Kong since 1841 – not surprising with our colonial roots and Australian, South African and South Asian communities. It continues to be a much-loved game, with over 60 clubs operating. Keep up to date via the Cricket Hong Kong website.
hkcricket.org
5 AMERICAN FOOTBALL / AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL
There are plenty of NFL and AFL fans in Hong Kong, and the two football codes are popular among their respective expat communities. Pick-up tournaments for American football are held mid-year for the season starting in September, while Aussie Rules teams play monthly with a focus on introducing newcomers to the game.
hkafl.com | afl-asia.com
6 TENNIS
The Hong Kong Tennis Association runs seven leagues catering for all ages, while the HK Ladies Tennis League offers six divisions of competitive matches. Kids’ tennis camps and courses are plentiful too.
tennishk.org | hkladiestennis.com
7 SWIMMING
The LCSD operates over 40 public swimming pools, with a range of outdoor and indoor, teaching and kids’ pools. The official swimming season is April to the end of October. Open-water swimming has a big following, too; take a look at the website of the Open Water Swimmers of Hong Kong for starters.
lcsd.gov.hk | owshk.weebly.com
8 GOLF
There are around half a dozen golf clubs in Hong Kong, including a public course, Kau Sai Chau, a short ferry ride from Sai Kung pier. There are numerous public driving ranges too. The HK Golf Association offers extensive opportunities for juniors.
hkga.com
9 HOCKEY
Hockey has been played in Hong Kong since the 1930s. More than 100 teams play at various levels, and the season runs from October through to May. Find out more through the Hong Kong Hockey Association. Ice hockey is also popular; the national team is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation and competes in world championships.
hockey.org.hk | icehockeyhongkong.org
10 WATER SPORTS
With over 700km of coastline and 250 islands, it’s unsurprising that Hong Kong offers a host of water sports to suit all. From sailing and sea kayaking, to diving, kitesurfing, surfing and windsurfing: the list is endless. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club has been around for well over 100 years and is among the territory’s oldest and largest sporting clubs.
rhkyc.org.hk
11 BASKETBALL
You only need to see the courts at Victoria Park to know that basketball is super popular in Hong Kong. There’s a youth academy and the Hong Kong Basketball Association.
hkbaallday.com | basketball.org.hk
12 TRAIL RUNNING
If you love hiking, trail running or just a family walk in nature, Hong Kong is home to more than 300km of marked trails. This is an ever-popular pastime, leading all the way up to the ultra-competitive Oxfam Trailwalker annual competition.
hiking.gov.hk