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read moreHong Kong Rugby Union Chief Executive Robbie McRobbie is confident that the Hong Kong edition of 2021 World Rugby Sevens Series tournament will go ahead with full-capacity crowds, despite uncertainty around the attendance of international spectators.
Speaking at the Live! Matters 2021 online event, McRobbie said that he is “confident but not complacent” about hosting the rescheduled event in November, adding that they will be able to do so with a full stadium of fans.
The tournament, which normally welcomes 50% of its spectators from overseas, has already been rescheduled from early April to 5th to 7th November at the end of last year as Hong Kong battled to contain its fourth wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.
McRobbie told viewers “we are confident we can sell out.
“The domestic demand is definitely out there and its far more than we have been able to satisfy and supply in the past, so we are confident that will help us to put the ‘sold out’ sign up.”
McRobbie’s confidence comes despite lingering uncertainty in the region, adding that HKRU had been “planning for the worst” as COVID-19 infections continue to rise across Asia.
He went on to say, it’s like a moveable feast, but you don’t know how many people are invited to your feast and you don’t what time the feast might end.”
The comments also raise concerns about the future of hosting spectator events across Asia, as countries grapple with varying degrees of COVID-19 infection rates.
Singapore, which will host a rugby sevens leg in the week prior to Hong Kong, has gradually been welcoming spectators back with a series of events, including the HSBC Women’s World Championship last weekend, open to 250 corporate guests.
Lim Teck Yin, Chief Executive of Sport Singapore, said that countries should be working closer in respect to event hosting, taking advantage of the keenly awaited Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble was announced earlier this week and set to take off on 26th May.
Yin advised “I think as the world begins to think about vaccination passports and international travel, it provides an impetus to figure out how we collaborate even more than we could perhaps have done in a pre-COVID world.”
He added that it was essential that they bring live events back to the region, but that it must “align with the national posture” at the time.
As reported by the SportBusiness website, the city is due to play host to the Singapore Badminton Open from 1st to 6th June, as well as the AFC Cup 2021 group games between 29th June and 5th July.
Football Marketing Asia Chief Executive Patrick Murphy suggested that such collaboration could lead to a “two-tier system” across the region, as territories with high levels of vaccinated residents and better coronavirus safety infrastructure start hosting spectator events before the rest.
Addressing Live! Matters, Murphy noted “we could end up with places like Hong Kong and Singapore, and as things evolve Taiwan and Japan - places with high level of vaccination and very strong infrastructure - getting to enjoy events in each other’s territories.
“But then you had a second tier of countries that have low vaccinations, it becomes more of a two-tier environment in Asia, which would be really sad, but maybe what happens.”
Images: Crowds at the Hong Kong edition of the World Rugby Sevens in 2018 (top) and rugby at the Singapore National Stadium (below).
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9th April 2021 - ICC to proceed with Men’s Twenty20 World Cup in India
8th April 2021 - Singapore Sports Hub Chief Executive looks to generate ‘attachment’ to the precinct
26th March 2021 - Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2022 announces Marriott Bonvoy and YouTube as Platinum Sponsors
17th March 2021 - World Rugby unveils global women’s competition calendar with annual WXV competition
10th March 2021 - World Rugby confirms postponement of this year’s women’s World Cup to 2022
5th March 2021 - World Rugby announces plans for ‘condensed’ Sevens Series
28th January 2021 - Chinese officials confident of completing preparations for a successful Beijing Winter Olympics
13th January 2021 - Chinese F1 Grand Prix postponed to second half of 2021
22nd December 2020 - Latest renderings released of Populous designed Hong Kong Kai Tak Sports Park
18th August 2020 - Chinese entertainment and ticketing platform reports 90% fall in revenue for first six months of 2020
6th August 2020 - World Health Organization says large crowds for sporting events are unrealistic this year
10th July 2020 - China bans international sporting events until 2021
30th June 2020 - World Rugby cancels remainder of Sevens season
5th April 2019 - World Rugby Sevens in Hong Kong looks to sustainability in 44th year of competition
4th July 2018 - Singapore Rugby Sevens delivers successful fan experiences for families
15th November 2017 - Hong Kong Rugby Sevens assures fans that tickets are safe to purchase through Viagogo
11th April 2017 - Hong Kong Sevens continues as the pinnacle of the Sevens World Series
3rd February 2017 - Aon to sponsor Australia’s women’s rugby sevens and new universities competition
29th November 2016 - Rugby sevens’ popularity rises in the wake of Australian women’s win at Olympics
5th September 2016 - Countdown to Singapore’s All That Matters entertainment, media and sport mega conference
2nd September 2016 - Venues announced for HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series 2016/17
2nd April 2015 - All That Matters digital and music conference returns to Singapore
10th September 2014 - Game on for Sports Matters
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