For the past six years, Gay Games Hong Kong (GGHK) volunteers have continued to work tirelessly to plan and deliver the Games in Hong Kong from November 3-11 this year – the first to be held in Asia.
We understand people may hold different views about Hong Kong as a host city.
However, we are deeply saddened by unfounded slurs made about the integrity of the GGHK Team, and totally reject any calls to cancel the Games. We are dismayed and disappointed that certain people outside Hong Kong are actively working to undermine and sabotage the successful staging of the Games later this year.
LGBTQ+ community in Asia — while vibrant and thriving — is still a way from enjoying the broad-based societal level of support and recognition seen in other parts of the world. In Asia, there are not as many opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to come together at such a scale, and participate in an international event that celebrates the spectrum of identities not always accepted in broader society. This is the reason why our 200+ strong passionate and mission-driven team of volunteers works so hard at bringing a successful Games to Hong Kong.
The inclusive nature of the Games is part of its unique strength and the purpose of GGHK is to create a positive, lasting impact on how society perceives LGBTQ+ inclusion in Hong Kong, Asia, and beyond.
GGHK is not a political organisation. We engage and work with a wide range of stakeholders, allies, supporters and groups to plan and implement a major event that promotes Unity in Diversity in line with the Federation of Gay Games’ principles of Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best. Our volunteers represent a rainbow of different genders, sexual orientation, ages, social backgrounds, nationalities and political views. We are united by one goal only: to deliver a great event for the Federation of Gay Games, for Hong Kong, and for participants and supporters traveling to Hong Kong from around the world. That is our mission. That is what drives us.
Furthermore, the personal health and safety of all participants, spectators and volunteers is our top priority, and we have comprehensive policies and procedures in place to ensure everyone at the Games feels safe and protected. LGBTQ+ people in Hong Kong, whilst not having some of the rights that other countries and regions have implemented like gay marriage, are able to live openly and authentically in public and there are no safety concerns for LGBTQ+ tourists to be themselves while visiting the city. Hong Kong is ranked one of the safest cities in the world, and hate crimes against someone based on their gender or sexual orientation is rare.
We ask all participants and visitors to respect and observe local laws and customs during their stay in Hong Kong. Participants in the Games are guests to Hong Kong and we encourage them to show the same respect to local laws and customs as they would with visiting any other city or region.
We continue to be heartened and enthused by the ongoing support and encouragement we receive about the Games from the local and international community in Hong Kong including sporting associations, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, consuls general, international chambers of commerce and companies large and small.
We have secured the funding we need, our venues are confirmed, our sports and arts & culture partners are ready and standing by. We are committed 100% to push on, to work hard and to stage a welcoming, inclusive, diverse and enjoyable Gay Games 11 in Hong Kong later this year.
