A senior official "ruled out the possibility of staging the track cycling world championships in Hong Kong again unless they can solicit more support from the government," according to Chan Kin-wa of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. The five-day event, the second-biggest track cycling competition after the Olympic Games, "ended on Sunday after fans had watched over 300 world-class riders from 41 countries compete at the Hong Kong Velodrome." It also cost the organizer, the Hong Kong Cycling Association, over HK$15M ($1.93M) and HKCA now faces a deficit of HK$3M ($390,000) after taking into consideration "government funding, commercial sponsorship and gate receipts." HKCA Chair Leung Hung-tak said, "We need to raise HK$6 million ($770,000) in order to secure matching funds from the government. This was not easy as the world governing body does not allow any naming rights by commercial sponsors for the worlds and the rule has scared away many potential sponsors. But it may help if the government can provide some special consideration such as taxation offers to commercial bodies sponsoring big sports events to lure their support. Until this happens, we don't think we would be able to stage the world championships again in a short period of time" (SCMP, 4/16).
LACROSSE OPEN EXPANSION: In Hong Kong, Andrew Mullen reported local officials will "seek assistance" from the Leisure & Cultural Services Department in order to "boost Hong Kong’s chances" on the int'l scene after "another successful hosting of the Lacrosse Open at Stanley Ho Sports Centre over the Easter weekend." The Hong Kong Lacrosse Association "is hoping to expand the tournament, which was played with 10 men’s and five women’s teams, by seeking to bring in stiffer competition" from Europe, Canada and the U.S. to "aid the chances of the local sides when they step up to world level." HKLA CEO Raymond Fong Kun-sheng said, "We are looking at extending the invitation to European teams and also from America and Canada, but one of the challenges is that it is right in the middle of the league season" (SCMP, 4/16).
