Bars and clubs in Hong Kong have pinned their hopes on the Paris Olympics to give their sagging fortunes a boost. They are gearing up with promotions and special offers, including themed food and drink menus, as well as games and giveaways, in a bid to persuade people to enjoy some time out as they watch the world’s top athletes in action. Many are also expected to waive their usual cover charges, Chin Chun-wing, the chairman of the Hong Kong Bar and Club Association, said.
“Hong Kong’s nightlife economy has been in its worst state in 20 years,” he added. Chin said an emigration wave in recent years had shrunk the group of middle-class and high-spending consumers and more low- to middle-income residents had opted to spend weekends and holidays in cheaper Shenzhen, just across the border. But he said it was still hoped that one of the world’s biggest sporting events would help the trade strike gold.
“Although the Olympics this time will be available for everyone to watch, we do hope it can still drive up business by about 20 to 30 per cent,” he added. The government announced in April that it had bought the broadcasting rights for the Games, to be held between July 26 and August 11. The move will allow Hongkongers to watch the broadcasts on free-to-air stations TVB, ViuTV and Hoy TV, as well as public broadcaster RTHK, just as in 2021, when the government bought the broadcasting rights for the Tokyo Games.
Chin said because Paris is six hours behind Hong Kong, the time difference meant “a lot of the events will be happening well into the night for us”. “People may prefer to watch in bars so they can enjoy themselves without disturbing other sleeping family members,” he said. Chin added that the government’s promotion of Hong Kong athletes this year, and the prospect of cheering the city’s team in a crowded atmosphere, would help to drive up business.
But out on the streets, residents were unsure. “You watch football at a bar because you expect it to be an hours-long experience you can enjoy with friends while having a few drinks,” teacher Book Sau-yee, 33, who spoke to the Post in Tsim Sha Tsui, said. Arnold Wang, also 33, who works in finance, added: “Olympic events feel a lot shorter.
If you watch the 100m race, for example, it only lasts a few seconds.” The duo said if a Hong Kong athlete appeared a probable medal winner, they would watch from wherever they were and it was unlikely they would head to a bar to make a night of it. The Hong Kong Olympic Committee is expected to send a delegation of about 70 to Paris, including fencer Cheung Ka-long who won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and swimmer Siobhan Haughey who won two silvers in Japan.
Sindy Wong, in her 30s and who works in fashion, said at a bar in Central that it would be thrilling to watch with a crowd if a city athlete was in contention for a medal. She said the city’s gold medal in fencing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics had brought people to fever pitch. “When Cheung Ka-long was fighting for his gold medal, everyone in my office was watching together, screaming and cheering,” she added.
“I think it would be super fun and create a sense of togetherness if we could watch in a bar with a few drinks.” Many sports popular in Hong Kong, including swimming, badminton, volleyball and fencing, are scheduled for the late afternoon or evening in Paris, which means they will happen from 10pm or later, Hong Kong time. The time difference left restaurants doubtful that the Games would boost their business.
“Hong Kong restaurants still face staff shortages, so it may be difficult to stay open well into the night when a lot of events are scheduled to take place,” Association of Restaurant Managers vice-president Jonathan Leung-chun said. Leung said restaurants in shopping centres would have to work out arrangements with mall operators if they wanted to open late . He added that if more city athletes emerged among the medal hopefuls this year, Hongkongers would become more interested in the Games and that would motivate restaurants to come up with specials to bring in customers.
But bars, clubs and restaurants will not be the only places where people can gather outside their homes to watch the Olympics. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will set up 18 “Olympics Focal Sites” at several government sports centres to show broadcasts from July 27 to the end of the Games. Rail operator the MTR Corporation, which has given all Hong Kong team athletes a year of free rides, will show the Games at nine of its shopping centres.
There will be large screens at Elements, Telford Plaza, Maritime Square, PopCorn, The Lohas, The Wai, The Southside, Paradise Mall and Luk Yeung Galleria. Henderson Land shopping centres MCP Central and MCP Discovery, and MOSTown will broadcast the Games on large screens during opening hours. They will also have Olympics-related workshops, photo exhibits and performances.
There will also be screenings at the APM shopping centre in Kwun Tong, which will have a 3,000 sq ft art installation by South African artist Naydine Bosman, including a 40-foot fake swimming pool..
