AS ONE of the “mega” finance conferences comes to a close today in Hong Kong, the curtain is about to rise on the city’s foremost international sporting weekend – the Rugby Sevens.
While “private wealth session” are the business of the day at the HSBC Global Investment Summit, bankers will also have a keen eye on the first day of the Sevens at the new Kai Tak Sports Park Stadium.
It’s a time of the year that the banking and finance industry shrewdly organise meetings and conferences in the week running up to the Hong Kong Sevens. Meetings and social events centre around finance and networking, while corporate boxes at the Sevens traditionally add a festival atmosphere.
The business of sport, in particular the oval-ball game, is the theme of Branded’s “RugbyMatters” – a half-day conference taking place tomorrow morning at the Kai Tak stadium where fans will be flowing in from noon onwards.
New Zealand All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick is ready to the RugbyMatters’ speaker line-up. Also taking to the stage is former South Africa Springboks player Bryan Habana and Netherlands World Cup soccer star Ruud Gullit. Leaders from sporting governing bodies such as Hong Kong China Rugby and World Rugby will be joining their counterparts from Kai Tak Sports Park, HSBC, Cathay Pacific and Laureus Sport for Good, among others.
Hong Kong Tourism Board will be playing a starring role when three days of rugby action kicks off. The opening ceremony will feature a laser show while the closing ceremony will include a pyrotechnic display, for the first time, set against the stadium’s open canopy roof.
A group of popular South Korean baseball cheerleaders – the KIA Tigers Cheerleaders (above) – Apex will add to the tournament atmosphere along with a traditional lion and dragon dance performance.
HKTB will share tips and recommendations for rugby fans on social media channels and has rolled out a host of special shopping, dining and entertainment deals to maximise the impact of the mega event and make sure locals and visitors enjoy everything the tournament weekend has to offer.
A capacity 50,000 crowd is expected at the stadium for the three day sporting extravaganza, which will be held for the first time at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Main image… Spot the banker! South Stand crowds at a previous Hong Kong Sevens. The 2025 event will be be held at the new Kai Tak stadium for the first time
