customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Lars Hamer

Hong Kong government bodies appear to have backed away from promoting the international Gay Games event scheduled to be held in Asia for the first time this year.
Four organisations, Brand Hong Kong, InvestHK, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), are all listed as “supporting organisations” for the city event, but the Post has learned that they have done little to demonstrate their backing.
The 11th Gay Games, which has been held every four years since 1982, will be held in Hong Kong from November 3 to 11 after it was delayed a year by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Organisers had hoped the government bodies, which had expressed support as long ago as 2016, would have helped by promoting the event, providing grants and venues, or issuing public statements.
But Gay Games Hong Kong (GGHK) is not listed on any government websites and no government agencies or officials have spoken in support of the event.
It’s safe in Hong Kong, Gay Games team tells foreigners worried about security law
The government in August said in response to media queries that the Games were organised by a community organisation and many events would be held at private venues.
Officials also reminded the organisers of the need to observe city laws.
When the Post approached the four statutory bodies listed as “supporting organisations”, only the Equal Opportunities Commission said it was in favour of the Games going ahead, but admitted it had not provided any “manpower or financial resources”.
“The EOC supports the staging of the Gay Games in Hong Kong, including supporting the organising committee’s bid in 2017 and their mission to promote equality and inclusion,” a spokesman said.


Brand Hong Kong, InvestHK and the HKTB confirmed that they allowed the Games organisers to list them as supporting organisations and use their logos.
InvestHK said it had “not provided any further support”, while Brand Hong Kong and the HKTB did not say if they had done so.
The HKTB and EOC have been listed as supporting organisations on the Games website since 2016, with Brand Hong Kong and InvestHK added later.
The lack of concrete government support is a stark contrast to the high-profile official backing for previous events hosted by France in 2018 and the United States in 2014.
Hong Kong Gay Games organisers refuse to cancel event in face of activists’ warning
Manuel Picaud, co-chairman of the 2018 Paris Games, said the French government provided free venues and grants that covered about a quarter of the budget, and there was also public support from President Emmanuel Macron.
“We had the full support of regional and national governments as we shared the same values of inclusion, equality and respect for LGBTQ people,” Picaud said. “This made the event more affordable and world-class.”
The 2014 Games in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, got the backing of then US President Barack Obama.
John Burns, an honorary professor at the University of Hong Kong’s department of politics and public administration, said the lukewarm government response showed that Hong Kong authorities preferred to distance themselves from the event.
“Hong Kong has hundreds of thousands of gay people and supporting this event is a way to signal to them ‘we know you are here and deserve equal treatment,’” he said. “Clearly, a decision was made not to do that.”
The organising body for the GGHK is made up of volunteers working in human resources, event planning, public relations, marketing and other fields.

A spokesman confirmed that the organisers had applied for a grant from the HKTB in 2022, but were rejected without being given a reason.
But the event has secured high-level sponsors, including Marriott Bonvoy and YouTube.
The spokesman said the Games had received “the usual support required from the government” to host events.
“It is entirely a matter for those bodies, or any supporting organisation for that matter, to determine the level of support they would like to provide to GGHK,” he added.


The only public venue being used is the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, which the organisers have to rent. Outdoor running events in country parks were approved by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
The Hong Kong organisers of the event have had a turbulent journey since they won the bid to host the Games in 2017.
Aside from the pandemic which forced the event to be postponed, political changes in Hong Kong have also affected it.
Foreign participants have said they would stay away to avoid “accidentally” breaching the city’s strict national security law. There have also been calls to cancel the Games, including from conservative groups in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s LGBT community struggles for acceptance in sports, CUHK survey shows
Organisers, who originally aimed for 15,000 participants, confirmed last month that only about 2,000 athletes had signed up. There were 10,000 at the Paris Games.
The original list of 36 sports has been slashed to 17, with some events moved to Guadalajara, Mexico, last year.
Track and field, field hockey and rugby sevens have been cancelled because of the lack of sign-ups, and the Post learned that volleyball, beach volleyball, diving and some other events could not find venues.
Competitors have to pay to take part. To attract more athletes, organisers have targeted corporations, which are expected to account for about 800 to 900 competitors.
A GGHK spokesman said the organising team was committed to staging “a welcoming, inclusive and successful” Games, despite the setbacks.
Chinese text that helped Gay Games Hong Kong co-chair embrace being a lesbian
Brian Leung Siu-fai, the chief operating officer of gay rights organisation Big Love Alliance, said that the event had become a missed opportunity to boost tourism and raise the profile of LGBTQ rights and equality.
“If promoted right, GGHK could have been the biggest international LGBTQ cultural event in Asia,” he explained. “The Hong Kong government should have made good use of this event to boost the waning local tourism industry.”
Chinese University’s Suen Yiu-tung, an associate professor of gender studies, agreed with Leung’s assessment.
He said: “A more welcoming stance would have undoubtedly attracted more participants.”


Hong Kong jumps to ninth spot in global talent ranking but Singapore still top in Asia

Hong Kong public housing providers to be investigated by watchdog over reallocation delays

Coldplay confirm 3 concerts at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak stadium in April 2025

2 cases have put mental health in focus. How does Hong Kong handle psychiatric patients?

Hong Kong society

Are Hong Kong government agencies giving Gay Games the cold shoulder? Authorities stay quiet about coming event

The Gay Games event in Hong Kong was originally set to kick off last year, but was delayed amid the pandemic. Photo: Handout

Professor John Burns says the lukewarm government response to the Gay Games shows Hong Kong authorities prefer to distance themselves from the event. Photo: Handout

Gay Games Hong Kong co-chair on the ancient Chinese text that helped her embrace being a lesbian

Lisa Lam, co-chair of the Gay Games Hong Kong, says she still returns to the Zhuangzi, an ancient Chinese text, from time to time, especially when she feels stuck or unhappy. Photo: Lisa Lam Mun-wai

Zhuangzi was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the fourth century AD during China’s Warring States Period.

The Zhuangzi is a series of stories, anecdotes and parables that advocate independent thinking and freedom from societal conventions. 

Hong Kong is safe to visit, Gay Games team tells foreigners worrying about national security law

The Pride Parade is held in 2019. Some LGBTQ activists in Hong Kong have called for the Gay Games to be cancelled. Photo: Felix Wong

Gay Games ambassadors pose for a photo in March. The Hong Kong event was meant to be held last year, but was postponed because of the pandemic, and the targeted number of participants was lowered. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

The one-year countdown to the Gay Games is held in November. Among those attending were Hong Kong Gay Games co-chair Alan Lang (fourth from left), top adviser Regina Ip (centre) and Lan Kwai Fong Group chairman Allan Zeman (fourth from right). Photo: Jonathan Wong

News

Hong Kong

Society

Four ‘supporting organisations’ have done little to help with grants, venues or promotion efforts
With only 2,000 athletes confirmed so far, Games organisers have slashed programme, scaled down event


Four ‘supporting organisations’ have done little to help with grants, venues or promotion efforts


LGBTQ

LGBTQ in China

Hong Kong sports

Hong Kong Gay Games 2023

Are Hong Kong government agencies giving Gay Games the cold shoulder? Authorities stay quiet about coming event

Four ‘supporting organisations’ have done little to help with grants, venues or promotion efforts With only 2,000 athletes confirmed so far, Games organisers have slashed programme, scaled down event

Four ‘supporting organisations’ have done little to help with grants, venues or promotion efforts

With only 2,000 athletes confirmed so far, Games organisers have slashed programme, scaled down event