Kai Tak Sports Park opens with star-studded ceremony in Hong Kong

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

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market