The Kai Tak Sports Park was officially inaugurated in Hong Kong on Saturday, with the much-anticipated venue now becoming the largest multi-purpose facility in the city capable of hosting top-level sports and entertainment events.
Built on the site of the former Kai Tak airport, the brand new landmark now takes on an even more promising role as the largest sports, entertainment and mega event complex in Hong Kong's history, John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said while addressing the opening ceremony.
A grand gala show was staged as part of the celebrations which featured colorful lion dances and a host of special guest appearances.
Among them was a fencing performance by actor Donnie Yen and Paris 2024 gold medalist fencer Vivian Kong Man Wai of Hong Kong, China. Meanwhile, China's table tennis Olympic champion Fan Zhendong was also in attendance for an amusing skit featuring oversized ping pong paddles.
Tickets for the ceremony were sold out within half an hour of going on sale on Feb. 21, with as many as 130,000 people queuing online to purchase a spot at the opening event.
Spanning 28 hectares, the Kai Tak Sports Park houses three bespoke venues, including a 50,000-seat main stadium complete with a retractable roof and a flexible pitch system suited to sports and entertainment events under varied weather conditions, as well as a 10,000-seat indoor sports center and a 5,000-seat public sports ground.
The facility also features an eight-hectare leisure space which will serve the public with children's playgrounds, sports courts, and bicycle trails.
The Kai Tak Sports Park has already landed a slew of major events, including multiple games of the 15th National Games, which will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in November.
Kai Tak Sports Park opens with star-studded ceremony in Hong Kong
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is ready to completely withdraw from the governmental scene in the Gaza Strip and engage in a positive and constructive manner with the second phase of the plan to end the war in the enclave, said Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim on Friday. In a statement, Naim said that the ceasefire deal became an international plan after being adopted by the United Nations Security Council. However, it is now facing obstacles.
He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of reneging on his commitments and escalating the situation, in an attempt to return to war and save his political career. Pointing out that Israeli strikes have caused hundreds of casualties since the announcement of the ceasefire, the Hamas official said the escalation cannot occur without cover or green light from the United States. He said Hamas has committed to all its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, as attested by the mediators and the U.S., adding that it is ready for the second phase of the agreement.
He emphasized the Movement's commitment to the establishment of a fully empowered Palestinian body to administer Gaza, and its complete withdrawal from the governmental scene.
Naim warned that the situation will not be sustainable if the continued escalation of Israeli military operations and the persistence of the catastrophic humanitarian situation remain unaddressed, adding that the circle of fire may expand, which is what Netanyahu aspires to.
Since a ceasefire took effect on Oct 10, 2025, Gaza's death toll has risen to 439 with 1,223 injuries, according to local health authorities on Friday. Rescue teams have recovered 688 bodies during that period. In the broader conflict, at least 71,409 Palestinians have been killed and 171,304 wounded since Israel's military campaign in Gaza began in October 2023.
Hamas ready for complete withdrawal from Gaza governmental scene: official
