In recent years, political tensions have strained ties between Hong Kong and the mainland. From the 2014 Occupy Central movement to the 2019 social unrest and the subsequent national security legislation, the relationship has faced significant challenges. Yet amid these tensions, sports has persisted as an important platform for bonding.
The power of sports to bridge divides is not new in Hong Kong-mainland relations. For decades, athletic competitions have fostered connections across the border, creating shared experiences and mutual admiration.
The China women’s volleyball team, crowned Olympic champions in 1984, 2004 and 2016, has long held a special place in the hearts of Hong Kong fans. Star players like Hui Ruoqi and Zhu Ting enjoy celebrity status in the city. Visits by mainland Olympic medallists have also drawn enthusiastic crowds and inspired young athletes.
This sporting connection is not one-sided. Table tennis stars like Li Ching and Ko Lai-chak, originally from Guangdong, have represented Hong Kong and carried on to mentor local-born players, including Doo Hoi-kem, Lee Ho-ching and Minnie Soo Wai-yam, who won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Elite Hong Kong athletes, such as Olympic gold medallist fencer Cheung Ka-long, have trained with mainland coaches and at premier sports institutions.
Hong Kong also contributed to the 2008 Beijing Olympics by hosting the equestrian events.
The roots of these cross-border sporting exchanges stretch back decades. Even before Hong Kong’s handover in 1997, exchanges took place, primarily with Guangdong. For instance, the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup, a football competition that started in 1979, was the brainchild of the late Hong Kong industrialist Henry Fok Ying-tung. This annual event has been held 42 times, serving as a lasting symbol of sporting goodwill.
Since 1997, these exchanges have expanded significantly. Visits by Olympic champions, coaching exchanges and joint training programmes have become routine. The city’s professional clubs, such as the Hong Kong Eastern basketball team, are eyeing opportunities to join mainland competitions to hone their skills. These exchanges infuse Hong Kong with a sense of excitement and unity.
Moreover, individual athletes have begun to reach over the gap in unprecedented ways. Hong Kong footballer Dai Wai-tsun, who became a naturalised Chinese citizen after years in the British and Chinese football leagues, has become the first Hong Kong-born player to represent the Chinese national team in recent times, embodying the potential for sports to transcend political boundaries.
The commitment to sports collaboration extends beyond informal exchanges and individual athletes. In 2009, the Hong Kong Sports Institute signed a memorandum of collaboration with five prestigious mainland training and research institutes. As officials noted then, the formalised partnership would “enable the two sides to complement each other and share resources”, ultimately helping athletes from both Hong Kong and the mainland to excel on the international stage.
These exchanges show that sports continues to serve as a relatively non-controversial link between Hong Kong and the mainland, fostering understanding and a shared pride even in times of political tension.
Next year, the National Games will be jointly hosted by cities across the Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong will host eight events in this multi-sport competition, marking a significant milestone as it will be the first time it is co-hosting this national event.
The Hong Kong flag flies during the closing ceremony of the National Games in Xian on September 27, 2021. The 2025 National Games will be hosted by Guangdong province alongside Hong Kong and Macau. Photo: Xinhua
Apart from strengthening Hong Kong-mainland cooperation, co-hosting the National Games also has the potential of boosting sports infrastructure development in Hong Kong, which would benefit local athletes and communities for years to come.
The event also offers a unique platform for exchanges between people, allowing athletes, officials and spectators from different parts of China to interact and build understanding in a positive, non-political environment. By focusing on the common ground of sports rather than political divisions, Hongkongers and mainlanders can develop bonds of fellowship.
The thunderous singalong to Red Sun at the Hung Hom Coliseum demonstrated Hongkongers’ enduring pride in their distinct identity. It also underscored their appreciation for China’s sporting ambition and prowess on the global stage. At a time of lingering cross-border tensions, sports can light a path beyond controversial rhetoric towards a more constructive shared future.
Zhuowen Li is a Washington-based researcher focused on Chinese political economy. He has written extensively on people-to-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world
Wei Gong is a Hong Kong-based analyst. As a graduate student at the University of Hong Kong, he has a keen interest in cross-border relations
