Hong Kong welcomed back its specialty Sevens rugby tournament for the 50th year on Friday, with an opening ceremony featuring robots, K-pop and a light show almost as sparkling as some of the events on the tarmac.
Not even a hole in the roof of the HK30 billion Kai Tak Stadium could put a damper on the action, even if the downpour left some behind. fans running for cover.
However, thunderstorms that swept through the city for much of the afternoon did not deter the general audience, with the organizers announcing before the first day’s matches began that all three-day tickets had been sold, leaving only a few single-day seats available on the Klook ticketing platform.
And although the daily attendance record that officials had hoped for was not achieved, some 34,368 fans passed through the gates over the course of the day.
The 50th Hong Kong Sevens opens at Kai Tak Stadium
The 50th Hong Kong Sevens opens at Kai Tak Stadium
Those who made the trip got to see the city’s men and women start differently in their Melrose Claymores tournament, with the former defeating China 36-14, and the latter needing a last-minute goal from Chong Ka-yan to draw 14-14 with Denmark.
