Oddball Games: There’s a mad world of outlandish sports out there to tickle your fancy

The urge to compete has been part of the human condition for millennia, and perhaps to satisfy this craving, communities across the world have dreamed up the most perverse games and quirkiest competitions imaginable. To be an offbeat champ, you might need to endure the downright dangerous or excel at the impeccably frivolous. In some cases, bringing people and nations together is the ultimate aim. Prizes on offer are usually insignificant compared to the thrills of the ride as wild wacky wonder is injected into everyday activities.

Toe-curling feat

Britain is something of a hotbed for zany competitions, often invented as a way of fulfilling the national pastime of one-upmanship through an obscure sport or a pastime that marries humour with quirkiness. The World Toe Wrestling Championships, which marked its 50th anniversary last year, is a bout of silliness held near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. Akin to combining elements of arm wrestling and thumb wrestling and applying them to feet, contestants from all over the world step up to lock toes and try to pin their opponent’s foot to the wall of the so-called ‘toedium’. The taking of stimulants is strictly forbidden, as are warts or a foot infection.

In a similar vein, the World Shin-kicking Championships is an annual event at the Cotswold Olimpick Games and can be traced back to 1612. Kick timing and accuracy are all-important for getting on the front foot in what can be an incredibly painful sport.

Whey to go

For sheer craziness, or sheer stupidity, the annual Cheese Rolling at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire takes some beating. An adrenalin-pumping global attraction thought to have its roots in the 15th century, it sees contestants sprint, tumble and hurl themselves down a precipitous drop in pursuit of a hefty wheel of prized Double Gloucester. Needless to say, injuries are commonplace. Apart from bragging rights, the prize for the winner is getting to keep the cheese!

Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales dips into madness every August for the World Bog Snorkelling Championships. This is where plucky entrants swim, usually by doggy paddling as traditional strokes are outlawed, through a water-filled trench cut into a peat bog. Mask, snorkel and flippers add a dash of flash to the murky proceedings.

Another British invention in wackiness that has captured the global imagination is Extreme Ironing. Achieving perfectly pressed garments in hazardous settings, such as under the sea, on mountaintops, or even while skydiving, is certainly for the deft of hand and daft of mind. Competitors are judged on the neatness of their garments and the creativity of their environment.

Side-spitting stunt

Not to be outdone by their cousins across the Atlantic, North America hosts plenty of sporting insanity. Take the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championships, held in Michigan, in which contestants from all around the world expectorate a cherry stone, with the farthest spat securing the trophy. Denture racks are rumoured to be on hand for those wishing to remove their teeth.

Another food-related niche event is the World Championship Chili Cook-off, held in California by the International Chili Society to determine which cook comes up with the perfect ‘bowl of red’. Later this month at Okanagan College in British Columbia comes the 40th annual Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest, in which entrants build a bridge from scratch, armed with store-bought spaghetti and a glue gun.

Heavy duty

Surely Finland’s most eccentric offering is the Wife-carrying World Championships in which participants carry their wife, or their neighbour’s wife, or a female collaborator borrowed from elsewhere, over a formidable obstacle course laden with pits (both dry and wet) and hurdles. Apparently inspired by the legendary antics of a 19th-century wife-stealing cad, the race requires expert coordination and balance – though the main goal is to have fun and not actually run off with anyone’s partner!

The winning pair receives the wife’s weight in beer – with bonus points and prizes awarded for couples who entertain the crowd, perhaps by carrying the woman upside down, wear splendid costumes, or demonstrate great strength.

Running on plenty

The Marathon du Médoc, held annually amid the beautiful French vineyards of Bordeaux, is more an exercise in indulgence than a sporting contest. Forget water stops and energy drinks, here lavishly attired runners are refuelled with vintage wines and gourmet food, and enjoy the music of full orchestras scattered around the course. Fancy a rest after all that excess? Why not try the National Siesta Championships in Spain, held every year to see who is the best napper!

An intoxicating combination of brain and brawn, Chess Boxing is far more energetic. This fascinating melding into one activity of two seemingly diametrically opposed pastimes – boxing and chess – was founded by a Dutch performance artist. The unusual sport is now popular in many parts of the world, where it challenges enthusiasts to think strategically and keep fit at the same time.

Its country of origin may be disputed – Italy versus Germany – but there is no denying the appeal of the World Beard and Moustache Championships. The location changes each year in this celebration of the most immaculately styled hirsute faces.

Message in a battle

Last held in December in Tunisia, the World Morse Code Championships are an example of how quirky competitions can bring people together. It’s a hugely competitive tournament in which contestants receive, copy and send coded transmissions as fast as possible, yet organiser Ashraf Chaabane, who proudly brought more than 100 high-speed telegraphists to the north African nation, commented that the friendships forged were just as important as the messages deciphered.

Belarus tends to triumph at the event, and their youthful, predominantly female team this time out served to dispel a myth that Morse is a pastime for middle-aged male geeks.

Ugly Birdlings

In most situations, ugliness is not something to brag about, or invoke the admiration of your peers. However, Leisa Elliott, who lives in Birdlings Flat, near Christchurch, New Zealand, achieved both of these last month when she won the second annual World’s Ugliest Lawn competition.

Elliott prefers to leave the garden to its own devices, so despite the presence of a local well, it is Mother Nature who waters the grass. Harsh coastal winds and a dry spell turned her lawn into a sun-scorched eyesore surrounded by verdant cacti. Though this barren patch of land is transformed into an oasis for bellbirds, fantails, finches, blackbirds and starlings when the heavens open, the Kiwi was proud to have triumphed in a global competition that promotes the spirit of sustainability and environmental awareness. The contest was created by the residents of Gotland in Sweden following a garden irrigation ban in 2022.

Tongue in cheek

Creating the ugliest or funniest face is the ultimate aim of the World Gurning Championships, one of the main draws at the Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria, northern England. For those unfamiliar with the expression, gurning is the knack of pulling grotesque faces, and reportedly it has been celebrated at this market town since the annual fair began 1267. Today the Egremont spectacle attracts visitors from around the world eager to ogle at contestants contorting their faces into the ugliest or silliest look possible. Traditionally, these outlandish visages are framed by a horse collar.

The best gurners are said to have no teeth, as this allows greater facial flexibility and even more comical expressions. Families have developed something of a tradition in the championships, with entrants over the years spanning generations to varying degrees of improvised ugliness.

Baby love

The Naki Sumo Crying Baby Festival is peculiarly unique, distinctly Japanese and designed to ward off evil spirits. Held in an open-air ring at Shinto shrines around the country, two sumo wrestlers face off with a baby in their arms with the infant who bawls first declared the winner. If they start crying simultaneously, the one with the loudest or longest shriek is considered blessed.

Head in the game: While players get treatment for injuries, there has been little or no protection against brain damage

The thrills and spills, rough and tumble of elite competitive sports are all part of the attraction for those who pursue them professionally, as well as for spectators who cheer on from the sidelines or the couch. But what is becoming increasingly clear is that the very competitive nature of high-level contact sports can exact a severe price on players through the onset of debilitating brain damage.

This health issue, which is now more widely recognised, has hit home particularly in the likes of football, rugby, American football, ice hockey, boxing and wrestling, where repeated blows to the head and concussions may occur. Constant, crunching tackles are also a concern due to the whiplash-like effect of this impact reverberating through the body to the head. Many parents are discouraging their offspring from participating in sports where head injuries are likely.

Injury blows

Respected BBC rugby commentator Chris Jones has suggested that this effect on brain health is an existential crisis for his sport. More than 300 retired rugby union players in England and Wales are pursuing legal proceedings over brain damage they say was sustained during their years in the game. They accuse the rugby authorities of being negligent and failing to protect them from permanent injury.

The number of claimants has risen rapidly since England World Cup winner Steve Thompson and other former players initiated the lawsuit in December 2020. They say part of their motivation in taking legal action is to save the game for future generations by securing new protective measures.

Failures levelled at rugby union’s world and national governing bodies include taking inadequate steps to inform, educate or warn players about the risks of permanent brain damage; conducting insufficient research into the effects of multiple concussive and subconcussive impacts on the brain and the prevention of permanent brain injury; and not reducing the amount of contact allowed in training or the number of matches per season.

Brain damage hits

This ongoing litigation in the UK has been compared with a successful American football class-action lawsuit brought against the National Football League (NFL). In this case, more than 4,500 former players and their families sued the NFL for misleading them over the long-term dangers of concussions and head injuries. It ended in a 2013 settlement worth about US$765 million (HK$5.9 billion).

This lawsuit highlighted the prevalence in American football of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head. Brain-related injury had been detected in boxers as early as 1928 when US doctor Harrison Martland linked signs of being ‘punch drunk’ – mild mental confusion and a staggering gait – with serial head punches. The condition was given the name dementia pugilistica.

More than 75 years later, in 2005, NFL hero Mike Webster became the first in his sport to be diagnosed with CTE; after retiring from the game, he suffered from dementia, cognitive impairment and mood changes, and brain damage was identified following his sudden death.

Post-mortem revelations

Sadly, a number of American footballers have committed suicide in recent years, most likely triggered by the neurological effects of playing their sport. One of them, Dave Duerson, who took his own life in 2011, had asked for his brain to be donated to the Boston University School of Medicine; subsequent tests found CTE. The autopsy of Australian Rules footballer Heather Anderson, who struggled with depression and killed herself in 2022, also detected this incurable disease of the brain.

England’s Thompson, who suffers from early onset dementia, has talked of being put on suicide watch as a result of his illness – as have other former rugby players involved in the ongoing legal action.

Carrying on with concussion

Ex-Wales international Alix Popham, who was diagnosed with probable CTE and early onset dementia in 2020 at the age of 40, shares in a BBC podcast some of his experiences of playing professional rugby and the lack of concern at the time about head injuries.

“Concussion was a bit of a joke; if somebody got knocked out or had ‘Bambi legs’ … players would have a laugh,” he says, explaining that teammates did not want to show any sign of weakness. “You were expected to chuck some water in your face and sniff some salts and just carry on. That was the way we did it.”

Popham believes most of his brain damage was inflicted during training because of the amount and length of contact required. He says these sessions might last as long as two hours and physios or doctors were not in attendance.

“My neurologists described subconcussive hits like a dripping tap on a piece of mud. [If it drips] once or twice, there will be no mark at the end of the day. But if it dripped for 14 years, there will be a big hole, and that is what is happening with every hit that a player is taking, not just to the head but to the body as well.”

Popham adds that some current players he has spoken to remain hesitant to quit the sport despite being advised that brain scans they have had are not “great”. It was perhaps this lack of clarity surrounding the issue that prompted him – along with his wife, Melanie Bramwell-Popham, and Sally Tucker, an NHS surgeon with a special interest in medical ethics and law – to set up Head for Change. Dedicated to pioneering positive change for brain health in sport, the charitable foundation provides a supportive space for sportspeople with neurodegenerative disease.

Heading for disaster

These laudable goals cannot come a moment too soon. Tucker’s father is a former professional footballer who has been diagnosed with dementia, probably caused by repetitive head injury from heading the ball during his career. Research published in 2019 found that footballers were three and a half times more likely than the general population to die from a neurodegenerative disease.

Just last month two former Premier League football players shared their health concerns after years of heading a ball for a living. Former England defender Gary Pallister talked of how sickening migraines would blur his vision, affect his speech and leave him unable to train for two days. Along with many ex-players, he harbours fears for his future wellbeing.

As for Pallister’s ex-England colleague Steve Howey – who at 53 sometimes struggles to express himself and suffers from short-term memory loss – scans have revealed that his brain is in cognitive decline. The British charity Head Safe Football is campaigning for heading to be declared a national health issue, and the harmful skill is now being phased out at grassroots youth level.

Howey is one of a number of ex-professional players in England who are taking legal action against football’s governing bodies. The group includes the family of former 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, who had advanced dementia in later life; he was diagnosed with CTE after his death in 2020.

More severe for women?

Sportswomen are feared to be at greater risk from concussion than their male counterparts. Research conducted by SidelinesDr in Australia and others suggest that women are not only more likely to sustain concussion in any given sport, but their symptoms tend to be more severe and their recovery time longer. Some medics have speculated that this is down to weaker neck muscles.

Other research in Australia found that 79 percent of jockeys have had at least one concussion during their horseracing career, and a quarter have suffered four or more.

Last year, World Rugby launched a call for applications to fund player welfare research projects into concussion, injury surveillance and prevention at all levels of the game. It also established a steering group to examine player welfare in the women’s sport. 

Technology is playing a part to help limit head injuries. For instance, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US are working on a new protective foam that could revolutionise helmets in contact sports. Many sports governing bodies are also finally supplying guidelines, education and awareness about the long-term hazards of concussion and repeated blows to the head.

Olympic Gold: Rewarded by cash incentives and sponsorship deals, today’s champions can run straight to the bank

Standing highest on the podium to receive an Olympic gold medal is the achievement of a lifetime, stirring up feelings of supreme pride and fulfilment. It can also bring immense financial rewards, as well as personal and social benefits that are beyond monetary calculation. But just how financially enriching is Olympic glory?

As the joyous celebrations of the Paris Olympics fade into memory, it is worth considering that in many places around the world, especially Asian cities like Hong Kong, building a career based on unconventional activities like sports in the headlong pursuit of Olympic triumph was once frowned upon. But Hong Kong’s success in the last two Games, in 2021 in Tokyo and now Paris, especially in fencing, has meant many parents now question this dogma and encourage offspring who want to pursue dreams of sporting glory.

Those that do so received a tremendous boost when the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced just prior to the Paris Olympics that it had increased its cash rewards to high-performing athletes representing Hong Kong, China. Payments from the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme rose by 20% for both teams and individuals compared to the Tokyo Games. This meant that Hong Kong’s two gold medallists, Edgar Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai, each received HKS6 million. Handouts were scaled down successively according to finishing position, with those placed from fifth to eighth receiving the lowest amount of HK$375,000.

Gifts for glory

Hong Kong athletes were in the enviable position of being some of the best earners at the Olympics. Indeed, foil champion Cheung reportedly received an additional HK$3 million through the Outstanding Athletes Incentive Awards Scheme of his alma mater, Lam Tai Fai College, after defending the title he had won in Tokyo.

Rewards offered by countries to incentivise their athletes participating in the greatest athletic show on earth varied considerably. Singapore badminton star Loh Kean Yew’s exit at the quarter-final stage cost him a possible golden payout of SG$1 million (about HK$5.8 million), a sum just shy of Hong Kong’s top reward. Serbia and Malaysia offered considerable cash incentives to reach the centre podium as well as the carrot of a lifelong pension. Thus, Serbia’s Zorana Arunović and Damir Mikec, following their success in the 10m air-pistol mixed team event, will be the lucky recipients of their national pension when they reach the venerable age of 40.

Lifetime of ice cream

All those years of unending training and physical exertion will certainly be worthwhile for gymnast Carlos Yulo of the Philippines, who won two gold medals in Paris. His list of rewards seems almost endless: a generous cash prize mandated by law; the Senate Medal of Excellence; gifts of condos and houses from big business and property agents; free flights with Philippine Air; shopping perks; a lifetime of free pizza from Pizza Hut and ice cream by Dairy Queen; a Land Cruiser Prado from Toyota; and even three personalised gold bars gifted by a pawn shop. Filipino band Moonstar88 have also promised to play at his wedding.

To put these rewards into context, sporting nations like Great Britain, Sweden and Norway do not offer their athletes any financial incentives for winning gold at the Olympics. It is expected, though, that such success will lead to other opportunities for making money through brand sponsorships and partnerships.

Increased marketability

According to Tom Potter, CEO of Rush Sport & Entertainment, the marketability of sports stars depends on a combination of their association with a popular sport, their individual qualities, excellence in performance, and sometimes personal aesthetics. “The dynamics of these relationships can change based on the athlete’s performance, public image and the evolving landscape of sports and marketing,” he says.

Though not referring specifically to Olympic triumph, Potter believes sporting success is bound to inflate the marketability of an athlete. “The individual qualities of a sports star, including their sporting excellence and fair play, may contribute significantly to their marketability. Fans admire and respect athletes who excel in their respective sports, and these qualities can enhance the positive image of a brand associated with them,” he says, adding: “While it’s not a strict requirement, reaching a high level of excellence often increases a sports star’s appeal to brands.”

China’s teenage diving sensation, Quan Hongchan, already has an estimated net worth of between US$1.5 million and US$2 million. This year’s successful defence of her Olympic crown added to her wealth – including a reported 450,000 yuan (US$63,700) from the sale of the car she was awarded. Her rise to stardom has been meteoric, and her earning potential will surely rocket as leading brands seek to tap into her reflected glory.

Generally speaking, athletes who consistently perform well, break records or achieve remarkable feats tend to attract more lucrative sponsorship deals. Interestingly, those who do not win but have other qualities can also strike valuable brand-association deals. They may be loveable underdogs with big personalities or possess real character, and despite not being great champions, add entertainment value to the sport and have a strong fanbase.

Endorsement queen

Some stars have struck short-term deals with major brands to capitalise on this festival of sport, such as US gymnast Simone Biles who joined hands with Uber Eats for the Tokyo Olympics. “This allowed Uber Eats to capitalise on Biles’ popularity and relevance during key moments, without committing to a long-term arrangement,” says Potter.

This is on top of her slew of multi-year endorsement deals with major brands like Athleta, the Gap-owned athletic apparel line she jumped to from previous sponsor Nike in 2021. These are companies that are keen to forge a deeper connection with a sportsperson, thereby fostering authenticity. Such endorsements far exceeded the estimated US$100,000 Biles pocketed directly from gymnastics last year; according to Forbes, she landed US$7.1 million in total earnings in 2023.

While financial success is no doubt welcomed, the gymnastic idol has subjected herself to mental anguish and sacrifices in the pursuit of glory. In Tokyo on a vault routine, she could not sense up from down and withdrew from her remaining apparatus events. She has since been candid about her mental health, revealing that she sees a therapist once a week. In Paris, she won a further three gold medals to add to her collection.

Other stars, such as US sprinter Noah Lyles, have talked about the pressures of being a top-tier athlete. Lyles said he suffered from depression during the pandemic. But after a disappointing performance in Tokyo, he recovered sufficiently to achieve gold in the 100 metres in Paris.

Athletic presence

In a Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes at the Paris Olympics, it was those in mainstream sports such as basketball, tennis and golf that dominated the rankings. The richest is billionaire LeBron James, whose annual endorsements top even his hefty NBA salary of some US$50 million a year.

Athletics, which gains such prominence during the Olympics, perhaps lacks visibility outside this elite occasion. The Financial Times revealed moves are afoot to raise its profile beyond the Games and increase the number of high-paying meets. If there is not a path to a good living, some sports will struggle to attract the best athletes, indicated one insider.

Two-time Olympic badminton champion Viktor Axelsen echoed these sentiments at the Hong Kong Open last month. The Dane said he would be the cheerleader to give the sport greater global attention outside the glare of the Olympics.

Riches & rewards

Another issue is funding of athletes to train and be ready to compete at the highest level. In Hong Kong, there has been much debate about increasing the financial support offered and improving the governance of sports associations. Local badminton star Lee Cheuk-yiu has called for more attractive annual remuneration packages to help aspiring Olympians make ends meet.

Ultimately, to become an Olympic champion, and achieve the riches this accrues, requires an impressive mental and physical toolbox. Aside from the lottery of life determining which nation you represent, the amount an athlete can earn depends on a whole range of factors. Endorsements and personal brand development are the real goldmine, but gaining recognition through sport can also deliver education and employment opportunities.

Some athletes like to give back, such as épée gold-medallist Kong, who aims to set up a charity with her winnings to promote sports development in Hong Kong. She is someone who undoubtedly knows the sacrifices and tough mentality needed to make it to the top of the sporting money tree.

The Beautiful Game: Luxury brands are increasingly connecting with sports stars to further the ambition of both sides

Elite sports stars have long held an irresistible attraction for adoring fans, who admire the physical prowess and mental toughness that sees athletes conquer adversity and remain at the pinnacle of their sporting endeavour. The very best are courted by the top global brands wanting to connect their product with the excellence of their sporting ambassadors.

Just last month, German fashion house Hugo Boss looked to two upcoming tennis players from the country, Noma Noha Akugue and Ella Seidel, to spearhead a push into women’s tennis wear. During the qualification rounds of the Australian Open, the young stars wore Boss black and cream sportswear, including plisse-hem dresses or skirts, technical tops and layered shorts complete with logos.

Seidel, an 18-year-old known for her powerful play from the baseline, was certainly happy to join Boss as a brand ambassador, commenting on the win-win deal: “It is a real pleasure to enter this partnership with Boss at this exciting point in my career. I admire the brand’s continuous support for tennis – and sports in general – and am looking forward to channelling Boss energy, confidence and courage into my games.”

Akugue, two years her senior, also expressed delight in the association, opining the opportunity would put women’s tennis firmly in the spotlight and help her “forge a deeper connection with my fans”. Boss’s other tennis ambassador, Italian Matteo Berrettini, was due to sport new designs from the men’s tennis capsule collection he co-created but was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.

Other fashion brands are attracted by the allure and athleticism of tennis players, with Gucci recently signing Jannick Sinner to its stable. The Italian, who carries his gear in a customised Gucci monogram duffel bag, appears in a poetic mood on the Gucci website, musing as he holds a book entitled Sinner by Sinner: “Jannick Sinner is humble. He’s aiming for perfection, and he’s not scared of doing things. … If I could have one superpower, it would be playing tennis forever. My journey is only just beginning!”

China draw

Luxury brands seeking to boost their influence with China’s youth are also offering endorsement contracts to the mainland’s top athletes.

Prada has signed tennis player Wang Qiang, whilst Dior has taken on basketball player Guo Ailun. Both luxury titans view these associations as a powerful means to nurture growth and brand loyalty in a growing market segment. Some analysts believe Chinese sports stars offer a more wholesome image than their peers in pop music or film.

Flying the French flag

Fashion brands are also maximising the opportunity presented by this summer’s Paris Olympics to score more points in the sporting arena. Luxury giant LVMH, whose maisons have created trophies or designed trophy trunks for high-level competitions for years, has struck a deal to sponsor the Games and appointed a trio of French talents as Louis Vuitton Paris Olympics ambassadors – swimmer Léon Marchand, artistic gymnast Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos and fencer Enzo Lefort. Jeweller Chaumet, meanwhile, is crafting the medals.

Marvellous Messi

Part of the excitement of top-tier sport for fans is the narrow margin between success and failure; it could be the width of a post or the toe of a goalkeeper that separates winning from losing. So it proved in the 2022 World Cup Final when the outstretched leg of the Argentine goalkeeper stopped a certain winning goal in the closing stages of that epic game. The eventual victory for Argentina cemented Lionel Messi’s reputation as probably the best player to have ever graced the game of football. His mesmerising dribbling ability, low centre of gravity and perfect spatial awareness left the global audience spellbound. He is quite simply unique, a once-in-a-generation footballer.

Ranked by Forbes as the second highest-paid athlete in 2023 (behind that other international soccer icon, Cristiano Ronaldo), and in the top three in the revenue stakes for eight years running, Messi’s wide appeal is a godsend for brands with big bucks at their disposal. He tops SportsPro’s list of the world’s 50 Most Marketable Athletes.

His star attraction is such that his Instagram account is just shy of 500 million followers. After his departure from Paris Saint-Germain last year, his next club, Inter Miami, had a massive uplift in their following. The Miami side, and potentially the maestro himself, are due in Hong Kong this month for an exhibition match.

Football fever

Messi mania is why Louis Vuitton was so keen to feature him alongside Ronaldo in its advertising campaign prior to the 2022 World Cup. The duo’s combined allure meant the ad went instantly viral. A dozen years earlier, the house had employed the services of a trio of footballing greats – Pelé, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane – in an advert.

Another footballing superstar, David Beckham, has become something of a fashion icon, and in 2015 secured a five-year multimillion-dollar deal with Kent & Curwen, the British menswear outfit offering heritage sporting style. Formerly owned by Hong Kong- based Trinity Group, Kent & Curwen previously had Beckham’s ex-England and Real Madrid teammate Michael Owen on its books.

Passion and risk

High-profile sport whips up a frenzy of passion and emotions, which brings rewards as well as risks for athletes and brands alike. Fans are desperate for success and competitors sometimes take risks, knowingly or unknowingly, that may cross the boundaries of lawful or ethical behaviour, posing huge challenges for their sponsors. Maradona, for instance, experienced a spectacular fall from grace at the 1994 World Cup after failing a drugs test. In 2016, when tennis ace Maria Sharapova tested positive for meldonium, a drug which can boost stamina and performance, sponsors Nike, Tag Heuer and Porsche quickly distanced themselves from the Russian star.

Interestingly, Nike stood by Tiger Woods in 2009 after lurid details of his extra-marital affairs were revealed to a titillated public eager for scandal. Other major brands dropped their endorsement deals with the champion golfer, but not the US sneaker and sports apparel giant. Woods had been with Nike for two decades and the deal they signed in 2000 was thought to be worth US$100 million. Despite the Woods’ sponsorship, sales of golf equipment never reached the levels of others like football, running or basketball, and Nike discontinued its golf range in 2016.

Woods is known to have a close personal relationship with Nike co-founder Phil Knight and both paid emotional tributes upon their professional parting of ways. Such are the bonds forged over sport, its power to shape minds, and the desire of brands to tap into the glory.

Best Games Ever: While covering themselves in glory, Hong Kong’s medal heroes also spread sporting joy throughout society

The FISU World University Games in Chengdu, China, were ones to remember for Hong Kong and its athletes. Astonishingly, their medal haul – 12 including 4 golds – matched Hong Kong’s combined total at all previous games. While friendships were forged and great individual and team battles played out, this summer’s edition of the biennial world student games will undoubtedly leave a lasting sporting legacy for the city. There were moments of supreme personal achievement and performances representing the pinnacle of sporting excellence.

Most impressive was the achievement of Hong Kong fencing superstar Edgar Cheung Ka-long, who notched up double gold, in the Men’s Individual Foil and the Team Foil. The 26-year-old, who is studying for a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Recreation Management at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), is no stranger to the winner’s podium, having bagged the gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in the same individual event.

Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice- Chancellor of HKBU, expressed immense pride in his student’s unwavering perseverance and determination, further stating: “His exceptional performance has solidified his position as one of the world’s top fencers, and we are all expecting him to reach new heights in the field.” Cheung’s achievement in winning two gold medals at a single World University Games was last matched by Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey at the 2017 edition in Taipei.

Win win for Hong Kong

In total, Hong Kong won four gold, one silver and seven bronze medals in Chengdu. Dr. Hon Sze-Sze of the HKBU’s Department of Sport, Physical Education & Health believes the success of Hong Kong athletes at the 31st University Games will enhance the perception of sports and boost participation in a city where traditionally it has ranked low in the public consciousness. “It is important for people to see that Hong Kong athletes could compete in high-level sports competitions and find success there, proving that it is not just a wild dream for young kids wanting to reach the Olympics one day,” she says.

Hon is convinced successful role models are much needed for aspiring young athletes and children alike. Regarding its value for sporting exposure, she places the games organised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) just second to the Olympics in terms of the number of participants and the level of sporting excellence. “In terms of spectatorship, it is undoubtedly very successful in drawing a good audience,” she stresses, adding: “The World University Games is seen as a platform where young student-athletes can learn from peers of diverse culture and background; it is not merely a gathering to demonstrate athletic prowess.”

Beyond sporting excellence

The stated aim of HKBU’s Physical Education and Recreation Management degree is to provide students with sufficient depth and breadth of knowledge, skills and practical experience in the discipline. While the course is not focused on training elite athletes in technical sports skills per se, it would certainly support student-athletes in pursuing their sporting goals while studying. “In addition, under the ethos of ‘whole person education’ of HKBU, our students will receive a strong liberal arts education to prepare them for a variety of careers,” says Hon.

Other notable student-athletes studying at HKBU have competed in major games. Recently retired top track cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze, who won two bronze medals at separate Olympics, graduated from its Creative and Professional Writing programme. The university also had other athletes at the World University Games who performed well, such as wushu star Lau Chi-lung, who won a silver medal in the Men’s nanquan. His achievement represents triumph over adversity as he suffered a serious knee injury a couple of years previously. Hon says Lau’s example will inspire others to overcome setbacks through hard work and self-discipline.

University support

She points out that HKBU and other local universities offer different categories of scholarships to encourage current and retiring athletes to engage in academic programs which help to expand their future career prospects. Cheung, for instance, was one of the scholarship awardees under HKBU’s Talented Athletes Direct Admission Scheme last year.

According to HKBU’s website, the scheme provides funding for eligible applicants who have sport talent and achieved outstanding results in sport at admission. Funding is renewable for the normal duration of the course, subject to the student’s academic results, good progress in sport training and performance, as well as contributions to the Sport Leadership Programme.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) also provided medal winners at the Games and encourages students with exceptional athletic abilities to enrol through various admission programmes. A spokesperson indicated that as part of this commitment, HKUST has enhanced its Student Athletes Admissions Scheme to offer special admissions consideration based on sport achievements, as well as flexible study arrangements, scholarships, living allowances, academic accommodation and other relevant assistance, allowing student-athletes to pursue their sporting and academic goals simultaneously.

Citywide, the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong, which embraces eight universities, paves the way for sports stars to gain tertiary education. It maintains the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme to promote sport achievement-based university admissions for local athletes.

Power of sport

HKUST says it recognises the wider personal and developmental benefits of sports and its ability to foster a sense of belonging, dedication and enjoyment among students. To this end, there are more than 30 sports clubs at the university and over 50 HKUST sports teams participating in intercollegiate, local and international competitions. All new undergraduates are required to take the sports skill class within its Behavioral Foundations of University Education: Habits, Mindsets and Wellness course in their first year of study to learn how to maintain a well- balanced and healthy lifestyle.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme rewarded those athletes who achieved success at the World University Games. Monetary bonuses provide extra incentives for top- level performance, according to Hon, who points out that many athletes devote a great deal of time to training and competitions. “However, I do not think many athletes are aiming to earn big money through their sports endeavours,” she says. “Most of them do it because of the pure love of the sport itself.”

Hon also notes many are driven by a continual desire to improve their performance levels. Hong Kong’s world-class fencer is a classic example of a person driven to succeed. Soon after his latest gold medal triumph, Cheung told the assembled media: “I don’t think about anything. My mind is just ‘be a warrior, just fight’.”

The Asian Games in Hangzhou, which begin on 23 September, is the next opportunity for the city’s sports warriors to shine.

Triathlon – the triple-sporting challenge open to everyone

The triathlon is a sport that will push you to your limits of endurance and test your competitive spirit to its maximum. For many, the very thought of doing three different sporting activities in one go is simply too off-putting, too much of a test of physical stamina. But for others, the sense of overcoming great odds and of facing a supreme test of character is its great attraction. And it’s also a sport for all ages.

“Anyone can challenge themselves, regardless of age, I have seen people in their 80s participating,” says Doron Grossman, an Australian in his 60s and a veteran of several Singapore triathlons, as well as the Busselton and Bintan half ironman events. Such is his sense of achievement from these activities that he would actively encourage anyone to participate in triathlons.

What is a triathlon?

The standard triathlon combines swimming, biking and running, usually in that order, although any multi-endurance event in which three different sports are completed consecutively can be considered a triathlon. There are common triathlon distances for different categories, from the supersprint, which in total equates to about seven miles, up to an Ironman, which is even harder and totals around 140 miles. The first recorded triathlon took place in San Diego in 1974 and it became an Olympic Sport in 2000 in Sydney.

Why do people do it?

There are known to be considerable physical, health and other benefits from training for and participating in triathlons. As you train for a triathlon, your body will adapt to increased workloads and upgrade its cardio-respiratory function.

And this produces knock-on benefits. “I believe being physically fit assists in being mentally healthy and alert. Also, the endorphins that are produced really make you feel great about yourself. Participation also forces you to eat more healthily in order to fuel your body,” says Doron, who is also the managing director of a company involved in the insurance sector in Hong Kong.

Some competitors experience a strong emotional charge during training and competitions. Others report an intense almost spiritual feeling of overcoming adversity and struggle and of feeling a great sense of achievement.

Beyond that, there are a multitude of potential health benefits – lower bad (and higher good) cholesterol levels, reduced chance of strokes and heart attacks, lower blood pressure, reduced chance of diabetes, better overall body composition, and stronger bones to name but a few.

There is also a social aspect, with Doron saying: “You also meet a lot of people as training partners or coaches that create a like-minded social circle.”

The benefits of cross-training

Triathlon involves three sports so inherently training for such an activity involves crosstraining and includes a variety of exercises in the training routine.

This is also what makes training for triathlons so appealing for some, with the variety in the training routine reducing the burnout typically caused by concentrating on one type of exercise. Fitness can then become enjoyable and a lifestyle option. “The fact that it involves three disciplines makes training interesting. Many people get bored if they just run, bike or swim. By mixing it up, it keeps you motivated to train,” says Doron.

Obviously, to compete in triathlons you need a certain level of competence in swimming, biking and running. For newcomers to the sport, it is the swimming part which often appears the most challenging, including for Doron, who actually had to learn to swim before he could take part in his first such event.

Irrespective of any competitor’s individual goal, it is actually the training which is the most important aspect of a triathlon.

Time – the biggest commitment

“The biggest commitment is time. Training involves spending time training in all three disciplines as well as training for the transition, which is where you change gear from one discipline to another,” says Doron.

The transition is the stage where competitors drop off equipment they no longer need and pick up equipment they require for the next stage of the triathlon. Some experts suggest bringing along more items rather than potentially missing something.

Each individual athlete naturally has different strengths which affect their training routine. Training programs can be tailor-made to suit individual circumstances. “Personally, most of my training is concentrated around running, which is my greatest strength and I find that the cardiovascular fitness really helps with the bike. I also spend a few days a week swimming as that is my weakest sport and have to force myself to improve my technique as the fitness for swimming is already there.”

Doron believes anyone considering participating will need to have a good level of cardiovascular fitness and be prepared to participate in some form of activity for approximately one hour at least five days a week.

Obviously, there is the equipment necessary for the competition, which should be purchased with the idea of maximising comfort and efficiency for your training program and lifestyle. This equipment includes the right swimsuits, bike types, helmets and glasses, pedals, shoes, running apparel, nutrition belts, hydration systems and GPS watch amongst others.

Ultimately, top-tier triathlon competitors can be driven people, the prime example being Leslie Paterson. She used every skill she learnt competing in the triathlon, sometimes overcoming great pain and adversity, to raise funds for an adaption of All Quiet On The Western Front (which recently won seven BAFTAs) after years of it being rejected by Hollywood. She even completed a triathlon in Costa Rica with a broken shoulder to help fund the project. Now, that’s dedication.

Tokyo Paralympics: Hong Kong athletes haul medals in Japan

“I cannot believe we are finally here. Many doubted this day would happen,” remarked Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee in his Opening Ceremony speech at the Tokyo Paralympics Games.

Against all odds the delayed 16th Summer Paralympics are taking place in the presence of very few fans and amid rising fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in Japan. First held in 1964, Tokyo is the only city in the world to host the Paralympics twice. Hong Kong has already earned two bronze medals in table tennis and boccia (mixed individual) categories – whilst we’re hoping to clinch plenty more medals, a repeat success of the Olympic Games which concluded less than a month ago would be ideal – but, with 24 athletes across just eight sporting categories, it is going to be a pretty tight run for the top honour.

Scroll below for all the highlights of the Paralympic Games and the unmissable events –

The Hong Kong delegation

With a total of 126 medals till date, Hong Kong has enjoyed a remarkable streak at the Paralympic Games. Five years back in Rio, our medal haul of six – two golds, two silvers and two bronze – was considered a lackluster performance after the triumph of 2012 when Hong Kong’s Paralympians brought home 12 medals from London.

In 2021, the SAR has sent a delegation of 24 athletes, 40 coaches, National Paralympic Committee representatives, and other delegation officials. Athletes compete in eight sports – badminton, boccia, archery, equestrian, swimming, table tennis, athletics, and wheelchair fencing – hopes for outstanding honours are riding high.

17-year-old Wong Ting-ting after securing a bronze in the table tennis event

17-year-old Paralympian, Wong Ting-ting claimed Hong Kong’s first medal, a bronze, in women’s singles table tennis event. The young player won the first of a best-of-five match against current world number one, Russia’s veteran star Elena Prokofeva. She beat the Russian representative 11-9 in the first game, but lost 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 to the 50-year-old. Despite missing out on gold, support and praise has poured in from all quarters for the budding local athlete.

Wong Ting-ting made her debut at the Paralympic Games marvelously and outperformed veteran players, winning the first medal for Hong Kong at the Games. We are delighted and thrilled. Given her strong will and exceptional talent, I believe that she will reach new heights of sporting glory – Chief Executive, Carrie Lam in a statement to the press

Former world champion, Leung Yuk-wing has won the second bronze medal for Hong Kong at the Boccia Mixed Individual event beating China’s Zheng Yuansen 5-4 in the play-offs. A boccia prodigy, 36-year-old won two golds at the 2004 Athens Games, just a year after his initiation in the sport, a gold in Rio and now waiting for a top spot at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Leung Yuk-wing has won a total of five medals for Hong Kong at various Paralympic Games through the years, including four in individual events!

The other dominant forces to watch out for are Alison Yu Chiu-yee who will participate in wheelchair fencing. Yu is outstanding on the piste, with seven golds, three silver and a bronze since her Athens 2004 debut, she doesn’t need any introduction. Ngai Ka-chuen, is a veteran in archery since 2009 but competing at the Paralympics for the first time, meanwhile 24-year-old Natasha Tse Pui-ting, is hoping to cinch medals in equestrian category.

Also Read: Add oil! Hong Kong athletes making history at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Event highlights for Hong Kong athletes

Bookmark these dates to cheer on local athletes:

Archery: August 27 to September 4
Athletics: August 27 to September 5
Boccia: August 28 to September 4
Equestrian: August 25 to 30
Swimming: August 25 to September 3
Table tennis: August 25 to September 3
Wheelchair fencing: August 25 to 29
Badminton: September 1 to 5

History of Paralympics

Founded by Sir Ludwig Guttman as rehabilitation exercises for World War II veterans, the first edition of the Paralympics was held in 1960 in Rome, a week after the main Olympics. Called the Stoke Mandeville Games at the time, it was a competition for just 400 wheelchair-bound athletes from 23 countries. The event was retrospectively called as the first Paralympic Games – contrary to popular belief, the name Paralympics does not come from ‘paralysis’ and ‘Olympics’, instead it was coined using the Greek preposition ‘para’, which means parallel or alongside.

Today, that multi-sporting event has become the pinnacle of athletic achievement for people with physical disabilities – in 2021, 539 events across 22 different sports are taking place in Tokyo. Badminton and taekwondo are being introduced at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics for the first time.

Keen to catch all the action live? NowTV, RTHK, i-Cable and HK Open TV are all showing the Games on television as well as on their online platforms. Highlights can be viewed on their Facebook pages.

Also Read: Heroes of Hong Kong- Medal haulers of Tokyo Olympics 2020

The Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance

Professional athletes and fitness fanatics always strive to outperform their last best record. So, it’s not surprising for the fitness world to continue bringing forth gadgets, engineered to produce peak performance. The latest sports gadgets facilitate traditional sports training and continuing advance into the modern world of smart technology. New technologies equip athletes with devices that help boost their performance and put them in better control of the situation.

Here are the latest sports gadgets that will assist athletes and sports enthusiasts:

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets Polar vantage V titan — Polar Vantage V Titan HK$4,580 Up

High-performance multi-feature sports watches

Smartwatches are best to start a discussion on sports gadgets. They are the most common accessory to every sports enthusiast. Aside from time, smartwatches track different types of data and metrics that help athletes analyze their progress.

How it works: Similar to fitness trackers, they are designed to track progress, calorie burns, heart rate, and GPS locations when connected to smartphones. But with more improvements in technology, these high-tech timepieces have been upgraded to enable more features for extreme sports, such as deep water diving.

Benefits: Information is key to improvements. Knowing your weaknesses, strengths, and progress go a very long way in helping an athlete attain his goals. With easy connectivity via smartphones and Apps, users can gather significant data helpful in tracking progress, including weaknesses.

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets Polar vantage V titan Garmin TacX cycle — Garmin Tacx Neo Bike Smart Trainer HK$24,801

Smart trainers

From mirrors that double as a functional interactive digital gym to stationery cycles that mimic the high-speed inertia of a professional road bike or even smart technology kettlebells that adjusts its weight magnetically, smart trainers aim to help athletes resolve the shortcomings of traditional training and urban lifestyles, such as road traffic for cyclists and gym closures for weight trainers.

How it works: Smart technology, often available in digital devices, provide traditional training, including the neuromuscular type that mimics real weights and realistic road bike inertia and offers the conveniences that urban life demands, like customized programs, Bluetooth, and mobile phone connectivity.

Benefits: Smart trainers enable serious athletes and casual sports enthusiasts to overcome urban life obstacles in busy cities by making workouts personalized and convenient to users with the myriad of digital features and connectivity that don’t fall short from traditional training.

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets FORM smart swim goggle — FORM Smart Swim Goggles HK$1,542

Fitness trackers

Apart from waterproof smartwatches and heart rate monitors, other sport-specific fitness trackers such as the FORM Smart Swim Goggles, Nike Air Vapor Max Shoes, and the Tangram Smartrope LED showcase technology with the most functional features that every serious athlete needs in training for better performance.

How it works: When connected to the app, users track anything from calories burned to distance traveled. Sensors are embedded into the devices to collect data on how much distance was covered and how much calories were burned.

Benefits: Convenient as wearable fitness trackers that enable athletes to easily and accurately collect data of their training and progress without carrying any bulky accessories with them.

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets Polar vantage V titan Hyperice Vyper 2.0 — Hyperice Vyper 2.0 HK$1,542

Muscle recovery accessories

Muscle recovery is probably the most underestimated contribution of high-tech gadgets to physical performance for those unfamiliar with competitive sports training. Proper recovery is essential to any fitness program and is detrimental to fall short in this part of the workout.

How it works: Modern technology has taken traditional forms of muscle recovery and incorporated it into smart devices like the Hyperice Vyper Foam Roller and Powedot 2.0 Uno which allows athletes to save time and recover at home. These devices were engineered to deliver powerful vibrations to target sore muscles and promote blood circulation

Benefits: Athletes can save time going for sports massages and recover muscle fatigue faster at home with devices that are twice more effective than regular methods, giving them the opportunity to perform at their peak in their next workout. They also relieve soreness and promote blood circulation after workouts.

Latest sports technologies that boost athletic performance gafencu magazine gadgets Polar vantage V titan Skulpt Scanner — Skupt Scanner HK$767 Up

Body Scanner

It’s now a well-known fact in the health and fitness world that the number on the scale doesn’t mean much unless the number tells how much fat, water, muscle, and bone the body is made up of.

How it works: Gadgets like the Fitbit Aria 2 smart scale and Skulpt Scanner offer athletes accessible tools to scan their bodies and analyze their body composition. When touched with the skin, these scanners use weak current but high- frequency electrical impulses that travel through the muscle fibers, measuring the level of resistance against the body’s muscle tissue and determining the body’s composition.

Benefits: Not limited to just athletes, this tool benefits to anyone who wants to lose fat or gain some muscle mass as it gives users a better understanding of their body and highlights the areas that need improvements.

Breathing Trainer

Another noteworthy device that can be used for various types of sports training is the Airofit Breathing Trainer Bluetooth mouthpiece. Active sports can cause the body to tire, especially in competitive sports. A fatigued body affects breathing which can be detrimental to performance.

How it works: When breathing becomes difficult, the muscles get less oxygen, ultimately affecting performance. The device improves users’ breathing techniques and increases lung capacity during training with programs that let you adjust the airflow duration, intensity, and resistance level via pressure sensors to suit every user.

Benefits: This device trains breathing techniques to strengthen the respiratory muscles to get stronger, faster, and more efficient, allowing for better performance.

What to do and see in Hong Kong this October

October is such a fun month, isn’t it? The weather is perfect (not too hot, not too cold) and there is a lot of festivity in the air. For Hong Kongers, not only is there the Mid-Autumn Festival at the beginning of the month, but also a horde of events throughout the month. Whether you are a music lover, a food aficionado or a sports freak, there’s something for everyone this October.

ABBA Tribute Show

Tribute group ABBA MANIA returns to Hong Kong, which means it’s time to break out the flared trousers and have the time of your life. Recreating the final 1979 concert of its sensational Swedish namesake, Abba Mania will take audiences on a vibrant journey through song and dance.

28-29 October
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
1, Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
HK$295-HK$695
lunchbox-productions.com

Marco Polo Bierfest

For its 25th consecutive year, Marco Polo Hong Kong brings gourmands the most authentic German beer and cuisine. With a view overlooking Victoria Harbour, guests can expect a range of traditional German weissbier and dunkel.
Expect things to take a turn for the sillier as the festival features performances from the Notenhobler Band – the official Marco Polo Bierfest band since 1994. Rumour has it that one of the staples in their musical repertoire is the Chicken Dance.

20 October-11 November
Viewing platform, Level 6, Marco Polo Hong Kong
Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
HK$120-HK$280
gbfhk.com

The Roots of Flamenco

The living tradition of Flamenco arrives in Hong Kong with a world tour featuring two of the art form’s biggest proponents, Sonia Olla and Ismael Fernández.
Flamenco’s “Golden Couple”, whose performances New York Times critic Brian Seibert called “a furnace of earthy sensuality”, will stage a two-day show with accompaniment from world-renowned pianist Chano Dominguez.

11-12 October, 8pm
Lecture Hall, Sheung Wan
Civic Centre
HK$300-HK$580
rootsofflamenco.com

The Naked Magicians

Aussie comedy veterans The Naked Magicians return to Hong Kong this month with their critically acclaimed live show featuring full-frontal illusions and hilarious innuendo. The dashing duo performs an array of classic magic routines while stripping down to nothing but top hats and capes. Decidedly R-rated, the show guarantees plenty of laughs on your next group date.

25-27 October, 8pm
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
1, Gloucester Road,
Wan Chai
HK$395-HK$595
nakedmagicians.com

Verdi’s Aϊda

Celebrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of the HKSAR’s establishment continue this month with the arrival of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aϊda. Notable for its four-act structure and central place in the operatic canon, this production is the result of a new collaboration between the Shanghai Opera House and Opera Hong Kong.
China’s brightest contributors to the operatic arts are represented, with singers He Hui and Hao Jiang Tian among them. Aficionados of Verdi’s works can also expect an exciting accompaniment harnessing the talents of mainland China’s best orchestras, including the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra.

10-15 October, 7:30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
HK$150-HK$1,080
operahongkong.org

Tennis Open 2017

The atmosphere is thick with anticipation as some of the biggest names in professional women’s tennis prepare to return to Hong Kong for the 2017 WTA Tour. Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams is joined by former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, in addition to a host of other leading players from the Asia-Pacific region. Be sure to catch a few of the tournament’s first and qualifying rounds, as admission is free on a first-come first-served basis.

7-15 October
Victoria Park,
Causeway Bay
HK$160-HK$880
hktennisopen.hk

5 ways to boost your fitness in Hong Kong

Chinese New Year has come and gone and the Hong Kong community has ushered in the Year of the Rooster.

But, while everyone enjoyed the fireworks that lit up Victoria Harbour and the plethora of gifts and lai see packets they received, it’s now the time of year to shed the pounds after days of feasting on the not so healthy groups of the food pyramid.

That being said, we are not asking you to run the equivalent of the Hong Kong marathon every day or swim the distance of the annual cross-harbour race.

Instead, here are five simple and relaxing activities you can enjoy with your family that will enable you to get rid of any extra weight you gained during the festive period.

Badminton

Not only is this family friendly, but you can almost dictate the pace at which it is played. From rallies to games up to twenty one points, it’s your call on how much you want to do. In regards to where to play, Pacific Club in Tsim Sha Tsui and Aberdeen Marina Club are the places to get your game on in style.

In addition to this, you can also enjoy a serene view of the Hong Kong skyline. Plus, your family won’t have any reason to complain about why you spend so little time with them!

Golf

What’s better than soaking in some sun, having vast open scenic spots around you and competing in a calm round of golf. Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, which has hosted the Hong Kong Open since 1959, and the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course in Sai Kung are two perfect places to do this. With luscious nine- and eighteen-hole courses prepared for beginners and advanced players, it’s a brilliant way to spend an afternoon with the family and find out whether you are the next Tiger Woods or Lydia Ko!

Hiking

Sticking to the theme of beautiful scenery, hiking is another activity that is fun for the family and will surely get the heart pumping and the fat burning. With a number of hikes to choose from, including the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail, Dragon’s Back and the renowned Lion Rock hike, you may stumble upon old villages, breathtaking views, cooling rock pools and yes, even white sandy beaches. So why not reward all that hard work by soaking in some culture or wading in the cool, crystal clear waters.

Swimming

Speaking about wading in the water, another leisurely activity is a good, old-fashioned swim. Hong Kong has plenty of beautiful pools and private clubs to choose from, so there is no excuse not to dive in. Particularly splash-worthy is the Grand Hyatt’s rooftop pool, complete with sea view and the Conrad’s pool and deck in Admiralty. In addition to working on your cardio, you’ll be strengthening your core and building muscle. Even better, both these plush choices offer shaded cabanas, perfect for a post-work out relax.

Tai Chi

Have you ever looked out the window and seen groups of elderly people doing, what may seem like, weird movements to the drone of old-school Chinese songs blaring from a radio? If so, then what you are witnessing is the ancient tradition of Tai Chi.

Thought to have originated anywhere between 700 to 1500 years ago, the art of Tai Chi is used predominantly as a way to help alleviate stress and anxiety, while also finding inner peace.

Sounds good right? So why not give it a try, especially as the Hong Kong Tourism Board runs a Tai Chi class four days a week in front of the Museum of Art, which is a stone’s throw away from the picturesque Victoria Harbour.

Written by Bimal Mirwani