Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Protests lead to postponement of Hong Kong Open WTA Tour event

Protests lead to postponement of Hong Kong Open WTA Tour event
September 13, 2019

This year’s Hong Kong Open, an international-tier tournament on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, has been postponed amid ongoing anti-government protests in the city.

In a statement posted on the official event website, organisers said the tournament, which had been due to take place from 5th to 13th October, would not go ahead as planned “in light of the present situation”.

Triggered by now-retracted proposed legislation that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, mass protests have been taking place in Hong Kong since June.

With the Hong Kong Open due to be held at Victoria Park, one of the main sites for protests, organisers have not announced details of a new date.

The statement added: “the Open is the flagship event on our annual calendar and one of the most popular International sporting events in the city, attracting thousands of local fans and overseas travellers every year.

“As the winner of the WTA International event of the year award in 2018, we strive to maintain a high standard of the event for all participants, players and the fans in particular. However, after extensive discussions with our key stakeholders, we conclude that a smooth running of the tournament can be better assured at a later time.

“The event organisers and WTA are in active discussion on identifying an alternate week for the hosting of the event.”

The ongoing protests in the Chinese Special Administrative Region saw the number of tourists visiting Hong Kong slump by 40% in August.

Last year, Hong Kong was one of the world’s most visited cities, with 30 million tourists, but that has turned sharply after months of protests that still show no signs of ending.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in some areas, hotel occupancy rates in August fell by more than half.

In a blog post Chan wrote “the retail and even the catering industry are similar.

“The most worrying thing is that the road ahead does not seem to be easy to get better.”

Chan said the demonstrations have “severely damaged Hong Kong’s international image” as a safe city for trade, aviation and finance.

Images: Hong Kong's Victoria Park tennis arena (top) and protests in Victoria Park, with the tennis arena at left (below).

Related Articles

28th August 2019 - Hong Kong trade exhibitions and conferences continue largely unaffected by protests

9th August 2019 - Protests impact Hong Kong tourism

25th April 2019 - Work commences on Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park development

9th February 2019 - New Zhengzhou tennis complex to host WTA tour event

29th August 2018 - Business of Sport Network to present seminar on the Future of Sporting Events in Hong Kong

18th January 2018 - Shenzhen to replace Singapore as venue for WTA Finals

24th March 2015 - Hong Kong laments loss of Barclays Asia Trophy to Singapore

6th October 2014 - Hong Kong trade exhibitions unaffected by protest movement

5th June 2014 - Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Square museum marks 25th anniversary of protests

28th February 2014 - WTA to launch Singapore-based tennis development program

31st October 2011 - Hong Kong tennis event called off after sponsor setback


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

PaySmart

Headquartered in Brisbane with an Australia-wide network of satellite offices, PaySmart is one of Australia’s largest and longest-standing direct debit billing companies. In 1996 we began…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology

 
 

Debitsuccess

Debitsuccess is now part of Xplor Technologies.

read more

Billing / Finance / Fitness / Golf / Recreation

 
 

Technogym Australia

Technogym is the leading company in the Wellness and Fitness field all over the world. With 2,200 employees, 14 branches in Europe, U.S., South America, Asia  and Australia, Technogym exports its…

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Ausfit

Ausfit began in 1992, providing software services to the health and fitness sector including ClubWise, a fully hosted web-based product which combines state of the art club management software,…

read more

Billing / Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

SeatGeek Asia Pacific

SeatGeek is a search engine and mobile-focused ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell tickets for live events. As of August 2018, SeatGeek has exited the Australian, New…

read more

Entertainment / Sport / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 
 

HIDROPLAY

Hidroplay welcomes you to the exciting world of children's Playscapes, waterslide's and Water Attractions. Appealing to families, Hidroplay increases patronage in your facility during those…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Recreation

 
 

InterQuad (International Quadratics) 

InterQuad (International Quadratics)  With a combined legacy spanning over 150 years, International Quadratics (founded in 1976) and Pierce Pool Supplies (originally established in 1898 as A H…

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Technology / Waterparks

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business