How Hong Kong’s Gay Games stumbled in sprint towards finishing line but still made ‘history’

Delayed by Covid, hobbled by evaporating government support and embroiled in political controversy, Gay Games overcame huge hurdles to launch at weekend

While some lawmakers and critics say event will undermine traditional Chinese family values, organisers call it milestone in long fight for recognition

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Published: 8:30am, 6 Nov 2023Updated: 9:33pm, 10 Nov 2023

Hongkonger Ally Chan Suet-yu has been open about her sexual orientation with her friends, classmates and colleagues, but the 27-year-old has so far refused to tell her parents she is a lesbian.

“I know that they won’t accept me,” said Chan, who left her job as a financial analyst to pursue a master’s degree in fine arts at Baptist University.

While she has kept a fundamental part of herself locked away from her family, Chan nonetheless signed up for the Gay Games Hong Kong that began on Friday. Taking part was her way to “fight back” against “outdated values” and contribute to the visibility of the LGBTQ community, she explained.

“This event is a big deal for Hong Kong,” said Chan, who will compete in the mahjong event. “I want to show others that we are just normal people who want to be ourselves.”

Participants kick off the Games at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai on Saturday. Many participants and rights activists have also expressed disappointment over the level of government support for the event. Photo: Edmond So

But the road to the opening ceremony in Wan Chai’s Queen Elizabeth Stadium last Saturday has been far from smooth. About 2,400 participants from 45 jurisdictions are competing across 18 events, far short of the roughly 15,000 athletes, more than 100 places and 36 sports first envisioned.

And while the economic impact of the first Games to be held in Asia will only become clear after they end on November 11, the final figure is almost certain to be well below the HK$1 billion (US$128 million) initially estimated.