The Hong Kong Sevens was staged once more at the Hong Kong Stadium following 4 months. It was also the first time following Hong Kong fully lifted the epidemic prevention measures. The fans in the venue, whether tourists or Hong Kong residents, felt: Hong Kong is back! “Seven Lam” played the last day of the race yesterday, tens of thousands of fans entered the arena, immersed in the carnival atmosphere, and the Hong Kong team finally sounded the victory drum, and won the 13th place and won the silver shield! The New Zealand men’s and women’s teams took home the silver cup, the highest honor, with their popularity! The conference estimates that the 3-day event attracted a total of 75,000 people to watch the game. Some people in the bar industry said that the business of bars in the beneficiary area is expected to increase by 10% to 20%, but only half of that before the epidemic.
Photography: Su Wenjie
Large-scale events in Hong Kong are coming one following another. The “Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2023”, one of the “M” brand events, was held at the Hong Kong Stadium for 3 consecutive days starting last Friday. After the measures were taken, it resumed to be held at the usual time for the first time, and it will be held less than half a year following the event in November last year.
This time fans don’t have to scan the “Travel Safely” and show the “Blue Code” when entering the stadium as they did in November last year, and they don’t have to wait for meals to take off their masks. They can cheer for the team and show their smiles throughout the process. And many fans even “dress up ghosts and horses”, such as Goddess of Fortune, Wonder Woman, Dragon Ball characters and other characters, and also choose toilet paper shapes, animal “grass mud horses” and other “nonsensical” dresses to enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere following returning to normal Ball game atmosphere. Some foreign fans bluntly said that they are excited to watch the game without masks at last, and it is worth celebrating; only the fans said that the number of spectators in the stadium yesterday was only 70% of the previous one. Government officials have stepped in to support it for days. Chief Executive Li Jiachao appeared at the stadium last night, drinking beer in the stands while watching the game, and accompanied by Culture, Sports and Tourism Director Yang Runxiong and Jockey Club Chief Executive Ying Jiabo, awarded the highest level to the big winner of this station – New Zealand silver cup. He pointed out that this year’s event is held for the first time following Hong Kong fully returned to normal. Everyone can enjoy the exciting event more fully and freely, and the atmosphere is more enthusiastic than the previous one; he also predicted that similar international events will come one following another. The Deputy Secretary for Administration, Toh Wing-hing, and the Secretary for Security, Tang Bingqiang, also attended the game the day before yesterday.
Bar business not as good as last year
Every “Seven Lam” event will be associated with the bar business. Leung Lap-yan, the founding president of the Hong Kong Federation of Licensed Bar Clubs, said that Seven Lam has indeed brought some people to the industry, mainly benefiting the bars in Hong Kong Island such as Central, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay. It is estimated that business will increase by 10% to 20% compared with usual holidays, but the business volume is only half of that before the epidemic. He also pointed out that the atmosphere in Qiluan this time is not as good as last November. It is believed that last year’s races were resumed following many years. This time the races are too close together. In addition, social epidemic prevention measures have been relaxed for a long time, and the social enthusiasm is not as good as last time. , and the bar business is not even as good as last year.
Hong Kong men’s team wins the silver shield, Yao Jincheng bids farewell without regret
In terms of competitions, New Zealand defeated Fiji 24-17 in the silver cup final of the highest level, winning the title in Hong Kong once more since 2014. As for the Hong Kong team, although they lost all three matches in the group stage in the first two days, they defeated Kenya and Canada successively in the ranking match yesterday, and won the 13th place and the silver shield glory. Yao Jincheng, the famous Chinese player who will bid farewell to Qilan following this year’s competition, said frankly that he feels complete and that he has “successors”. Yao Jincheng, who missed the last two games due to a hand injury, walked around the field with the army following the game, paying tribute to the fans and wishing them victory. He mentioned that he won the silver shield when he represented the Hong Kong team in Qilan for the first time in 2010, and this time the final battle ended with the silver shield. But now I hear many fans calling my name, which means that the past 13 years have not been in vain, and it is a proof of my hard work.” Chinese teammate Mai Jicong completed his first touchdown in Qilan in the battle once morest Canada, and Yao Jincheng admitted frankly Very happy, especially to prove that Chinese can also contribute to the Hong Kong team in Qilan. Mai Ji-chung said: “Brother Cheng can’t play this game. I really want to score points for him. I am very happy to present a victory for the fans.” In addition, this year’s first women’s competition in Qilan is also a In one of the World Series, the Women’s Silver Cup final, New Zealand defeated Australia 26-17 to win the cup; while the Hong Kong women’s team finished 12th.
Originally published on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/local/hong-kong-is-back-Qilan Hot Stadium-New Zealand crowned queen-Hong Kong team wins silver shield/369626?utm_source=yahoorss&utm_medium=referral
